Japan's opposition flexes muscle after election win

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TOKYO, July 31 (AFP): Japan's resurgent opposition Tuesday blasted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for staying in office despite an election mauling and vowed to fight to stop him extending support to the US military in Afghanistan.
Abe, an outspoken conservative who supports a larger military role for officially pacifist Japan, suffered a major setback Sunday as voters ousted his party from the upper house of parliament.
But Abe has vowed to stay in office, insisting that voters supported his broader agenda despite their anger over scandals and Japan's creaky pension system.
Abe "is trying to get away with such senseless conduct, trying to keep his cabinet in charge even after his party lost the majority," said Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the main opposition centre-left Democratic Party of Japan.
"I don't think he will gain people's support and understanding by doing something so selfish," Ozawa said at a party meeting.
It was his first appearance since his party's historic win Sunday over Abe's Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled Japan for most of the past half-century.
Ozawa, who has a history of health problems, had taken a rest due to fatigue after the election campaign.
The Liberal Democrats maintain a large majority in the more powerful lower house, meaning they can stay in power and override votes by the opposition-led upper house.