TOKYO - Embattled Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Wednesday resigned to improve his party's chances in an election next month, after his own popularity plunged over his broken campaign promise to move a US Marine base. Hatoyama's bungled handling of the relocation of the Marine Air Station Futenma on the southern island of Okinawa caused him to step down just eight months after his party swept to power on promises to bring change and accountability to government. Hatoyama is the fourth Japanese prime minister to resign in four years. The Democratic Party of Japan's powerful No. 2, Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, also stepped down on Wednesday in a desperate attempt to bolster the DPJ's sagging reputation ahead of upper house elections that will likely be held July 11.
