Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa decided Monday to boycott Diet discussions on key bills after an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Taro Aso failed to produce substantive results.
In their first one-on-one meeting, Ozawa urged Aso to submit the second fiscal 2008 supplementary budget to the Diet before the extraordinary session ends Nov. 30. But Aso didn't give a clear answer.
The development dashes hopes that an Upper House committee will vote on the antiterrorism bill Tuesday to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.