Health issues forces Japan prime minister out of office

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will step down after seven years and eight months in office.

In a news conference today, Abe announced his resignation in which he addressed his health after two recent hospital visits.

The 65-year-old said he wanted to avoid causing problems to the government because of his worsening condition.

Governing party officials had said Abe’s health is fine, but the hospital visits, one lasting more than seven and a half hours, had fuelled rumours about his ability to handle the job with another year before his term is due to expire