Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama announced Wednesday his decision to resign in a general assembly of ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) lawmakers. Hatoyama's support rate plunged below 20 percent after being blamed for dividing the ruling coalition due to his mishandling of a plan to relocate a U.S. military facility in Okinawa, causing the Social Democratic Party to bolt from the coalition and reposition themselves to oppose the DPJ in the forthcoming election. (Japan-PM-Resignation) KABUL -- Taliban militants fighting the Afghan government and NATO-led troops in Afghanistan claimed firing rockets and sending suicide bombers to disrupt Peace Jirga that opened in the capital city Kabul Wednesday. In talks with media via telephone from unknown location, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that the outfit had sent four suicide bombers to sabotage the peace jirga. (Afghanistan- Taliban) BANGKOK -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday assigned Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to hold a meeting with all coalition parties to discuss problems and a cabinet reshuffle following the no-confidence vote. (Thailand- Politics) ISLAMABAD -- At least 10 militants were killed Wednesday morning by the Pakistani security forces. According to local media, the security forces implemented the offensive in retaliation to an attack on their checkpoint in the troubled Orakzai Agency in the northwest tribal areas of Pakistan. (Pakistan-Militants) 