Yukio Hatoyama has said he wanted to step down as Japan's prime minister as his government has failed to fulfill its election pledges concerning the relocation of a U.S. military base in Okinawa, the NHK TV channel has said.

The government had pledged that the military base would be relocated "outside of the country, or, at least, outside of the prefecture" of Okinawa, the TV channel said. However, after eight months of negotiations, a decision was made to relocate the base within the prefecture.

Hatoyama is expected to announce his resignation at an emergency plenary meeting of Japan's Democratic Party later in the day, NHK reported.

TOKYO, June 2 (RIA Novosti)