TOKYO : Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's popularity has plunged close to lows seen in the wake of his party's election mauling in July, a poll showed Tuesday.

Abe enjoyed a brief boost in his public approval ratings after reshuffling his scandal-plagued cabinet in late August.

But the rebound was short-lived with his cabinet's approval rating now back at just 29 percent, according to a weekend survey of 3,000 voters by the Yomiuri newspaper.

A telephone poll soon after the August 27 cabinet shake-up had estimated Abe's popularity at 44.2 percent.

Abe's approval rating is now back down near to a low of 27.2 percent seen in early August just after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's election drubbing.

The disapproval rating now stands at 60.7 percent, according to the poll, which was taken before Abe's speech on Monday to the new session of parliament when he vowed to battle on in office to try to push through his reform agenda.

Abe brought in party veterans to take up key positions in his cabinet after a major upper-house election defeat in July following a raft of scandals and gaffes involving his ministers.

According to the latest survey, 45 percent of respondents said the Abe cabinet's lack of stability was a reason they did not support him.

Abe is in a fight for his political life as the resurgent opposition tries to block his reforms as well as legislation to extend a controversial military mission providing refuelling support to US-led operations in Afghanistan.

Abe has staked his job on the need to extend the mandate for the mission, which polls show is unpopular with voters.

The Yomiuri survey found that only 29 percent of the poll participants supported extension, while 39 percent opposed it.

- AFP /ls