TOKYO, July 29, 2007 (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged Sunday to stay in power despite a crushing election defeat for his ruling coalition, saying he believed voters still backed his conservative ideas.

Abe suggested he would reshuffle his cabinet but signalled he hoped to govern as normal, even though his coalition was projected to lose control of the less powerful upper house of parliament.

TOKYO, July 29, 2007 (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged Sunday to stay in power despite a crushing election defeat for his ruling coalition.

'I have to sincerely accept the voice of the people,' a sullen-looking Abe said in a television interview.

But he added: 'I will continue to assume my responsibility as prime minister because my task of nation-building has just begun.'

TOKYO, July 29, 2007 (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday that he did not plan to resign despite a crushing election defeat, as quoted by domestic media.

Asked outside his office whether he planned to stay in charge, Abe said, 'Yes,' Jiji Press reported.

Officials in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party said Abe did not see the election defeat as a rejection of his signature policy goals, such as the rewriting of the country's pacifist constitution.

TOKYO, July 29, 2007 (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to stay in office despite a crushing election defeat for his ruling coalition on Sunday, public broadcaster NHK said.

The national network, quoting unnamed sources, said the conserative leader had indicated he intended to stay prime minister and pursue his signature policy goals, such as the rewriting of the country's pacifist constitution.

Officials declined to confirm the report, but suggested that Abe planned to stay in power.