Japan min won't quit over farm grp scandal

Tokyo, Sept 1: Japan's agriculture minister apologised toady for illegal dealings at a farmers' aid association that he heads but said he would not resign from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's new cabinet, national media reported.

Speaking to reporters, Takehiko Endo admitted to learning more than three years ago that the organisation had received 1.15 million yen (9,900 dollars) from the state illegally, but he had neglected to inform Abe about it before his appointment on Monday.

The group, in Endo's constituency in northern Japan, has not returned the money to state coffers, Kyodo news agency said.

The farm minister's post has recently come under intense scrutiny. Endo's predecessor was sacked over reports of discrepancies in his political funding records. The previous incumbent committed suicide after a separate scandal.

The latest misdeed, reported by the Asahi newspaper toady, could deal a fresh blow to Abe, who was hoping tha this reshuffled team would win him a clean start after his coalition suffered a crushing defeat in an upper house election in July.

A poll by the Nikkei financial daily earlier this week had shown public support for his cabinet up 13 points from late July, to 41 percent.

Yesterady, Endo apologised for receiving a donation of 50,000 yen (430 dollars) from a livestock dealers' group that accepts state subsidies from an affiliate of his ministry.

REUTERS>