Japan’s main opposition party on Friday rejected an extraordinary offer from Yasuo Fukuda, prime minister, to form a grand coalition aimed at rescuing the country from political deadlock.

Mr Fukuda, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic party, made the proposal during a one-hour private meeting with Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. His offer, the rough equivalent of George W. Bush proposing to form a joint Republican-Democrat cabinet, reflects frustration at the parliamentary deadlock that has resulted from July’s upper house election.