Koizumi wins postal reform vote

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Japan's lower house of parliament has narrowly approved plans to privatise the country's huge postal system.
The move is set to create the world's largest bank, as Japan Post controls 350 trillion yen ($3.2 trillion) in savings and insurance funds. The 233-228 vote was a victory for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who had pledged to push the reforms through before leaving office in 2006.

But it was a tight call, with members of his own party voting against him.