TOKYO (Thomson Financial) - Support for the Japanese government led by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has fallen 4 points to 55 percent from when his administration took office one month ago, a poll conducted by Nikkei Inc showed on Monday.
Some 45 percent of those who support Fukuda said it was because of his strength of character, while 40 percent cited a sense of stability and 16 percent said because it was a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) cabinet, according to the poll.
Dissatisfaction with the government rose four points to 31 percent, with 50 percent of respondents saying they opposed the cabinet because it was led by the LDP, while 27 percent said they disapproved of the government because it lacked leadership.
With regard to the key issue of extending the law that enables Japan to refuel US ships in the Indian Ocean in order to support anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan, 47 percent said they thought such activities should continue after the current law expires on November 1, the same level of support seen in last month's survey.
The national telephone survey was conducted from Friday through Sunday, with responses from 911 adults.
(1 US dollar=114.21 yen)
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