Japan's trade and industry minister has submitted her resignation to Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe over claims she abused political funds.
Yuko Obuchi is alleged to have used funds from her political support
groups and other donations on make-up and other items unconnected to politics.
She handed Abe a letter of resignation during a 30-minute meeting.
Correspondents say it is a blow to Abe, who wants to bring more women
into the top levels of government.
Obuchi, 40, was one of five women appointed by Abe in his last cabinet
reshuffle last month and tipped by some as a future prime minister.
But last week came news that her staff had spent tens of thousands of
dollars of campaign funds shopping for designer goods, and tens of thousands
more on taking constituents on trips to Tokyo.
The BBC's Japan correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says that this is
not the end of Abe's problems concerning his new female ministers.
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