TOKYO, JAPAN: Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Monday (1 Sept) night he had decided to resign in an effort to break a political deadlock, The Daily Yomiuri reported.

The resignation came only days after the government announced a stimulus package to counter flagging consumer spending.

According to wire reports, the embattled prime minister abruptly resigned after a yearlong struggle with a deadlocked parliament.

The resignation of the 72-year-old Fukuda, who was only in office for less tha a year, deepened a two-year stretch of political instability of the country.

"We still have time before discussion of key policies starts in the upcoming parliamentary session, and this is the perfect timing not to cause people too much trouble," Fukuda said in a press conference at his official residence, agencies reported.

Fukuda's popularity rating plunged to 29%.

The resignation prolonged the political uncertainty that has plagued Japan since Junichiro Koizumi left the premiership in 2006 after five years in office. Koizumi's successor, Shinzo Abe, lasted only a year in office, resigning in September 2007 for health reasons. (ANN)