The latest public-opinion polls in Japan show support for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi continuing to fall, with voters questioning his commitment to reforms.

A nationwide survey by the mass-circulation Asahi Shimbun newspaper published Monday finds that Mr. Koizumi and his cabinet have an approval rating of 49 percent, down from 53 percent last month. It is the lowest approval rating since Mr. Koizumi took office last April, pledging to pursue reforms to salvage Japan's sluggish economy. More than half of those surveyed say they are dissatisfied with the prime minister's reform efforts.

Another poll, by the Kyodo news agency, attributes Mr. Koizumi's declining popularity to his dismissal of popular Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka in late January. His support rating in the Kyodo poll is 53 percent.

Mr. Koizumi had previously maintained unprecedented popularity levels of 80 percent.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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