Japan minister quits over graft claims in blow to PM

Japan's economy minister resigned on Thursday over a corruption scandal, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as he looks to build support for a massive trade deal and changes to the country's constitution.

Akira Amari's surprise resignation comes a week after the veteran politician was hit by claims in a weekly magazine that he and his staff had improperly accepted a 12 million yen (USD 101,000) bribe from a construction firm.

On Thursday, Amari - the point man on a Pacific-wide free trade pact and a key face in Abe's bid to overcome Japan's decades-long economic malaise - apologised for the scandal but rejected claims he pocketed the money.

"If that was true, it would have degraded my dignity not only as a politician but also as a person - I wouldn't possibly do it," the 66-year-old told a nationally televised news conference as he choked back tears.

But "considering my responsibility as a member of parliament who has to oversee my secretaries, my duty as a cabinet member and pride as a politician, I will resign my post as of on Thursday".

Amari admitted envelopes filled with cash had arrived at his office, but said he ordered his secretary to deal with some of the money according to political donation rules.

He said the company refused to accept the return of some of the donations, and added that his secretary used about three million yen for "private use", without elaborating.