Japan defence minister quits over A-bomb remark

TOKYO, July 3 (Reuters) Japan's defence minister resigned today over remarks that appeared to accept the 1945 atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, attempting to quell the latest furore plaguing the ruling camp ahead of an election this month.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's support rates have already been slashed by outrage over government mishandling of pension records, and Defence Minister Fumio Kyuma's perceived gaffe has been adding to his headaches before the July 29 upper house poll.

Abe tapped national security adviser Yuriko Koike, 54, a former environment minister who speaks fluent English and Arabic, to succeed Kyuma and become Japan's first female defence minister. She will be sworn in on Wednesday.

''I regret that my comments have caused trouble. I am very sorry,'' Kyuma -- whose election district includes Nagasaki -- told reporters, adding that Abe had accepted his offer to resign.

Kyuma had apologised several times and Abe had tried to dampen criticism by reprimanding the 66-year-old minister, who said on Saturday the atomic bombings just days before Japan's surrender in World War Two ''could not be helped''.

But opposition parties, keen to press their advantage ahead of the election, had kept up pressure for him to resign. The scale was tipped when a prominent lawmaker in the ruling coalition's junior partner obliquely called for Kyuma to go.

''It is natural he should resign. The heavy responsibility of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has many problem cabinet ministers, remains for appointing him,'' Yukio Hatoyama, a senior leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, told reporters.

Kyuma is the second minister to resign since Abe took office in September, after a funding scandal felled a cabinet member of December. A scandal-tainted farm minister killed himself in May.

HEAVY DAMAGE ''It's a big blow to Abe. The problem for Abe is that his initial reaction was to try to defend him,'' said Gerry Curtis, a Columbia University political science professor.

''I think the damage is pretty substantial. It's better for Abe that Kyuma resigns than not, but it's a bad story for Abe,'' Curtis added. ''I still wouldn't predict the results of the election. If the voting rate is low, Abe can survive. But now there is a real chance he won't survive.'' Abe acknowledged he was responsible for his own cabinet appointees, but said he wanted to forge ahead with reforms.

''I have an important duty to carry out reforms,'' Abe told reporters. ''I have to fulfil this duty. I have renewed my determination to do so.'' Abe can ill afford any more scandals ahead of the election.

A weekend survey by the Asahi newspaper showed the prime minister's support rate had slipped 3 points in the previous week to 28 per cent, the weakest showing for the once-popular leader since he took office last September.

Kyuma had already gained a reputation for verbal gaffes since taking office last year, angering Washington in January by calling the invasion of Iraq a mistake.

More than 360,000 people ultimately died from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, which were quickly followed by Japan's surrender, ending World War Two.

The atomic attacks hold a central role in Japan's collective memory, and it has been criticised for stressing its status as victim while failing to acknowledge its own war atrocities.

The ruling coalition needs to win 64 of the 121 seats up for grabs to maintain its majority in the 242-member upper house.

Abe will not automatically have to step down if his coalition loses its upper house majority. If it falls short by a few seats, the ruling bloc can probably keep its grip on the chamber by wooing independents or members of a tiny conservative party.

But a big loss would mean the ruling bloc could not enact legislation, which must win approval in both chambers, threatening political paralysis and sparking calls for Abe to quit or even call a snap lower house election.

REUTERS GT VV1724