RULING PARTY REFORMIST KATO HOLDS BACK TEARS BEFORE EMOTIONAL SUPPORTERS IN TOKYO, 2000-11-20 (photo)

Koichi Kato holds back his tears as he speaks to supporters in Tokyo November 20, 2000. Kato, a former executive of the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), at first backed off from a threat to support a vote of no-confidence against Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, saying he would abstain along with his ally, Taku Yamasaki, following 11th-hour backroom negotiations. Minutes later, a tearful Kato said he would support the motion but told his supporters to abstain in the face of almost certain defeat, sparking pandemonium among the 62 members of the two factions in the multi-group LDP. TA/JDP