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| Race begins for Japan leadership | Race begins for Japan leadership |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Three Japanese lawmakers have launched their campaigns to lead the ruling party, kicking off the race to succeed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. | Three Japanese lawmakers have launched their campaigns to lead the ruling party, kicking off the race to succeed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. |
| Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, 51, is the clear front-runner to win the 20 September contest for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency. | Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, 51, is the clear front-runner to win the 20 September contest for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency. |
| The other two contenders are Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki. | The other two contenders are Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki. |
| The holder of this post is almost certain to be made prime minister. | The holder of this post is almost certain to be made prime minister. |
| There will be a parliamentary vote for prime minister on 26 September, four days before Mr Koizumi is due to step down. | There will be a parliamentary vote for prime minister on 26 September, four days before Mr Koizumi is due to step down. |
| Profile: Shinzo Abe | |
| Mr Abe has a strong lead in opinion polls and appears to have the backing of the majority of LDP lawmakers. | Mr Abe has a strong lead in opinion polls and appears to have the backing of the majority of LDP lawmakers. |
| A staunch conservative, he has pledged a robust foreign policy and emphasised his aim of holding a referendum on constitutional revision. | A staunch conservative, he has pledged a robust foreign policy and emphasised his aim of holding a referendum on constitutional revision. |
| But critics fear the election of Mr Abe, who has backed Mr Koizumi's visits to a controversial war-linked shrine, could lead to further deterioration in ties with China. | But critics fear the election of Mr Abe, who has backed Mr Koizumi's visits to a controversial war-linked shrine, could lead to further deterioration in ties with China. |
| "To improve relations with China and South Korea, I believe all sides must make efforts to take steps forward," Mr Abe said as he launched his campaign. | "To improve relations with China and South Korea, I believe all sides must make efforts to take steps forward," Mr Abe said as he launched his campaign. |