Japan's Prime Minister to resign

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori has expressed his intention to resign in a meeting with ruling party leaders.

He is expected to remain in office for another month or so.

Ruling Liberal Democratic Party officials have not yet decided who will replace him.

Mr Mori serves as party president and prime minister because of the party's dominant position in Parliament. It is unclear when he would publicly announce he is stepping down.

Speculation over when Mr Mori would resign had been intensifying for weeks.

Mori took office last April after Keizo Obuchi suffered a fatal stroke. His tenure has since been marred by scandals and frequent verbal gaffes.

His public support ratings have plunged to the single-digit level, making him the second-most unpopular prime minister Japan has had since World War II.

Staying in office through the end of the month would allow Mr Mori to see the budget through Parliament and to hold a summit with the US and Russian Presidents.

More importantly, perhaps, the extra month would give the ruling Liberal Democrats time to settle on a successor.

Because they are the largest party in Parliament, the Liberal Democrats are able to decide who is installed as prime minister. But the faction-ridden party appears to be bogged down in negotiations over who the replacement should be.

The top contenders appeared to be former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, former Health Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chikage Ogi, who heads the Conservative Party, the smallest of the three ruling coalition parties. Though considered a long shot, Ogi would be Japan's first woman prime minister if selected.