Reformer elected Japan's new leader

Junichiro Koizumi, a fiery reformer, has been elected to lead Japan’s ruling party and replace Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori as premier.

Koizumi, 59 defeated former prime minister Ryutaro Hashimoto in the two-tiered vote, which included 141 ballots divided up among the party’s local chapters and 346 cast by its members of Parliament.