11.   What is more, the prefectural centers that would manage the system as well as the national center would create new jobs for retired ministry bureaucrats.

12.   Opposition lawmakers called for the resignation of Shokei Arai, a lawmaker and former ministry bureaucrat who is suspected of illegally accepting money from a top securities firm.

13.   A ministry bureaucrat apparently hanged himself before his scheduled questioning by prosecutors.

14.   A top senior ministry bureaucrat also stepped down.

15.   As prime minister, Hosokawa promised to free political decision-making from the grip of ministry bureaucrats.

16.   But ministry bureaucrats did not immediately tell their boss, Trade Minister Shunpei Tsukahara told reporters Friday.

17.   Earlier Wednesday, Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka resigned to take responsibility for the arrests Monday of two ministry bureaucrats.

18.   Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka stepped down Wednesday to take responsibility for the arrests Tuesday of two ministry bureaucrats.

19.   Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka stepped down Wednesday to take responsibility for the arrests Monday of two ministry bureaucrats.

20.   Hours after Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka resigned, two other senior ministry bureaucrats also tendered their resignations.