Members of japan's main opposition party Shinshinto continue a sit-in in the parliament March 14, which began on March 4. They are demanding that the government drop its unpopular plan to spend 685 billion yen ($6.52 billion) in tax money to help wind up ailing mortgage firms. The three coalition parties decided not to set a key budget committee meeting this week to assure the main opposition party that the coalition will not force a vote on the budget.

JAPAN PARLIAMENT