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Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo To Step Down

Abe has ulcerative colitis, a disease causing inflammation and sores in the digestive tract.
Posted at 7:19 AM, Aug 28, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-28 07:19:06-04

In Japan, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo says he will resign due to a chronic health condition. 

Abe has ulcerative colitis, a disease causing inflammation and sores in the digestive tract. He said the condition had been under control but resurfaced in June, adding that his decision to leave prematurely was "gut-wrenching." 

Abe first took office in 2006 but stepped down a year later due to health reasons. He eventually returned to power in 2012, becoming Japan's longest-serving prime minister.