Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the House of Councillors election, DPA reported. The largest opposition, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), seized at least 59 seats, while Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) held at least 35 seats and New Komeito at least eight in the 242-seat upper chamber of Japanese parliament, with the remaining five seats, NKH television news reported. Despite the defeat, the prime minister said he intended to stay in power and to continue pushing reform policies. "As LDP president, of course the greatest responsibility (for the election defeat) rests with me. However, I am determined to fulfil my responsibility of carrying out the nation-building that I have promised and which has only just begun," Abe was quoted as saying by Japanese media. "I would like to humbly accept the result of the election, continue to listen to the views of the people and move forward with reforms," Abe was quoted as saying on Sunday.
