Japan’s Prime Minister defeated

The ruling coalition of Japan\'s Prime Minister Taro Aso has been defeated in a Tokyo local election which is held as a key popularity test prior to general elections.



Reports say the loss to the opposition Democratic Party (DPJ) could lead Mr Aso to dissolve parliament this week.



The DPJ won 54 seats to 38 for Mr Aso\'s Liberal Democratic Party, ending four decades of dominance in the assembly.



The defeat could also increase pressure on Mr Aso to quit as LDP leader before the national poll due by September.



The LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, together won 61 seats, three short of the 64 needed to secure a majority in Tokyo\'s 127-member assembly.



Before the vote, the bloc had 70 seats against 34 for the DPJ.