Japan's Prime Minister Speaks Out

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Sunday rejected calls for his defence chief to resign, saying he was needed to reform the scandal-ridden defence ministry, Kyodo news agency said.

Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba has been harried by accusations of a cover-up over the circumstances behind a collision between a destroyer and a fishing boat earlier this month.

Ishiba has admitted the ministry's handling of the inquiry had flaws, but denied any attempt to hide information and pledged to resign if a cover-up was shown to have taken place.