In a fresh blow to the scandal-hit Abe administration, the Finance Ministry's top bureaucrat, Administrative Vice Minister Junichi Fukuda, was forced to step down Wednesday after a weekly magazine publicized last week a voice recording of what it claimed was him sexually harassing a female journalist.

"I can't continue my duty in this situation," Fukuda, 58, told reporters on Wednesday in announcing his resignation.

Fukuda also reiterated his denial of the allegations made by the magazine, saying he still plans to file a lawsuit against the publisher.