Japan PM Abe's support near post-election low

TOKYO, Sep 11 (Reuters) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's support rates have fallen near lows hit after he suffered an election drubbing in late July, according to a newspaper poll today.

About 29 per cent of respondents in a weekend poll published by the Yomiuri newspaper said they support Abe, below the 30 percent level analysts say is critical and only 1.8 percentage points higher than a month earlier.

About 60.7 per cent said they do not support him, in what the paper said was likely a sign that a boost triggered by Abe's Aug.

27 cabinet reshuffle had largely been eroded by fresh financial scandals among the new line-up of ministers.

On the key issue of Japanese naval support for US-led military operations in Afghanistan, 39 per cent said they opposed an extension of the mission beyond the end of its current mandate on November 1, while 29 per cent supported an extension. Another 29 percent were undecided.

Japanese ships have been refuelling coalition vessels in the area since 2001, and calling off the mission could sour ties with Washington, which has said Tokyo's support is vital.

Abe hinted at the weekend he might resign if parliament fails to pass a bill continuing the operation. The bill is seen likely to be rejected by the upper house, in which the main opposition Democratic Party and its allies took a majority in the July 29 election.

The ruling coalition could overrule a rejection by approving the bill a second time with a two-thirds majority in the lower house, but the process is time-consuming.

While Abe appears to be staking his political life on the naval mission, respondents remained more interested in the bread-and-butter issues that triggered his election defeat.

More than 63 per cent said pensions and social security were the top priority, after a row over millions of misplaced pension records came to a head earlier this year. Other problems mentioned in the poll included employment, the economy and political corruption, the paper said.

The figures were based on interviews with 3,000 people, of whom 1,787 gave valid replies, the paper said.

REUTERS TB RN0710