Tokyo, July 25: A no-confidence motion against Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was defeated in the lower house of Parliament today, in a rejection of a largely symbolic attempt by the opposition parties to stall passage of legislation to send troops to Iraq. Although opposition parties were mulling more censure attempts against other cabinet officials, the legislation authorizing the troop dispatch is almost certain to pass because Koizumi's three-party coalition controls a majority in both chambers of parliament.
Koizumi's ruling bloc mustered 287 votes versus 178 against the motion in the 480-seat lower house, a parliamentary official said on condition of anonymity.
The censure motions were expected to continue late into the night. Bureau Report