Tokyo

BESET by a series of political scandals and allegations of "arrogance" in forcing through controversial measures during his four years in office, embattled Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attempted on Thursday to shore up his shaky position with a Cabinet reshuffle.

Several key ministers were retained and others were brought back into the Cabinet while few fresh faces appeared in what was seen as a defensive lineup designed to avoid further embarrassment as he strives to stay in office long enough to reform Japan's post-war pacifist Constitution.