Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba to resign amid fallout from disastrous election

Public broadcaster says prime minister has made decision to avoid divide within his Liberal Democratic party

Japan's prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, has said he is to step down following calls from his party to take responsibility for a disastrous defeat in July's upper house election.

The public broadcaster NHK said Ishiba made the decision to avoid a divide within the party, while the Asahi Shimbun newspaper said he was unable to withstand the mounting calls for his resignation.