Junichiro Koizumi

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has taken on the role of acting foreign minister while he searches for a replacement for Makiko Tanaka. Mr. Koizumi fired Ms. Tanaka and her top deputy late Tuesday.

Mr. Koizumi told lawmakers Wednesday that Ms. Tanaka, Japan's first female foreign minister, understood his decision. He also stressed that political stability is vital since the government is trying to revive the struggling economy.

Makiko Tanaka

The outspoken Ms. Tanaka, who took office in April, is one of Japan's most popular politicians. But she has been increasingly involved in a bitter struggle with ruling party rivals and bureaucrats within the government and her own ministry.

Recently, Ms. Tanaka accused a ruling party lawmaker of applying pressure to bar two non-governmental organizations from last week's Afghan reconstruction conference in Tokyo. The lawmaker has denied her accusation.

Since Ms. Tanaka's dismissal, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is said to have received hundreds of phone calls from voters who said they wanted to see her back in office.

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