Japan remains committed to Olympics says ex-PM Abe after stepping down

Japan's longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe said Japan remains committed to fulfilling its responsibilities as host nation for the Olympic Games next year after announcing his resignation.

Abe stepped down on Friday citing health concerns.

Concerns about Abe's health began this summer and grew this month when he visited a Tokyo hospital two weeks in a row for unspecified health checkups.

He is now on a new treatment that requires IV injections, he said.

While there is some improvement, there is no guarantee that it will cure his condition and so he decided to step down after treatment Monday, he said.

He said his health problem was under control until earlier this year but was found to have relapsed in June when he had an annual checkup.