Japan's embattled prime minister, Taro Aso, is to call general elections on Aug. 30, local reports say, following a crushing defeat in local elections in Tokyo over the weekend. The number of seats held by his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) dropped by 10 to 38, while the opposition Democratic Party of Japan gained 20 seats to control 54. The New Komeito party gained one seat to give it 23 while the Japanese Communist Party won eight, compared with 13 previously.
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