Gaffe-prone Japan PM apologises over doctor remark

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso apologised Wednesday for appearing to insult doctors, an important political interest group, by saying many of them lack common sense.

Japanese broadcaster NHK quoted Aso, who was asked about a shortage of doctors in localities at a governors' meeting, as saying: "Frankly speaking, I think there are many (doctors) that lack common sense quite a bit. We need to seriously talk about what to do with them."

When later asked by reporters about his remark, the 68-year-old premier apologised.

"That was not what I meant ... If serious doctors had felt unpleasant, then I am sorry," he said.

Doctors are an influential bloc of voters in Japan who have traditionally supported the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. But in recent years, some have been drifting away to back the opposition.

Aso is known to make off-the-cuff comments that have offended many groups. Last year, he apologised after having joked about Alzheimer's disease, a sensitive topic in rapidly ageing Japan.

(Reporting by Yoko Kubota; Editing by Jerry Norton)