Campaign begins to replace Japan's PM

tauringhuang.

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- The official campaign to replace Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has begun

tauringhuang.

Five candidates are expected to formally submit their names at the headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and then hold a news conference later Wednesday to officially kick-off their campaigns.

The five are led by Taro Aso, an outspoken member of the party's right-wing and a former foreign minister, and Yuriko Koike, a former TV news announcer who has served briefly as defense minister.

Though seen as a long shot, Koike would be the first woman to lead the party and Japan's first woman prime minister.


The vote for party presidency was to be held on September 22.

It will be an internal ruling party affair, with 387 LDP lawmakers and 141 party representatives from around the nation allowed to cast ballots