tokyo - Former Foreign Minister Taro Aso was set to succeed outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda Monday as he was expected to win Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election.

Aso, 68, was determined to prevail against four other candidates in his fourth bid in the LDP presidential election, while hoping to lead the ruling party to victory in the House of Representatives election soon to be held.

Tokyo - The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will vote to replace recently resigned prime minister Yasuo Fukuda as head of the party that has dominated Japan for more than 50 years, officials said Sunday.

Taro Aso, who turned 68 on Saturday, is seen as the most likely candidate to win the party vote Monday. Contenders include former defence minister Yuriko Koike, 56, who is the first female candidate to run for the LDP presidency; Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano, 70; former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba, 51; and former LDP policy chief Nobuteru Ishihara, 51.

The winner would be assured of becoming Japan's prime minister, because the party controls the House of Representatives in the Diet, or parliament.

Tokyo - Candidates for Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential race were ready to take their campaign to the streets Wednesday in a bid to succeed outgoing leader and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

LDP Secretary General Taro Aso, 67, was seen as the front runner among the five candidates. Aso served as Fukuda's right-hand man for about a month since the premier reshuffled his cabinet.

Tokyo - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was expected to reshuffle his cabinet Friday in an effort to boost his government's support rate.

Fukuda apparently said that he would rename ministers with the future economy in mind amid surging oil and goods prices, as well as aging population, said Fukuda's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki.

The cabinet members would resign en masse in the afternoon before Fukuda summons new ministers.

Tokyo - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was expected to reshuffle his cabinet on Friday, media reports said.

Tokyo -