TOKYO - JAPANESE Prime Minister Taro Aso's support sank sharply in a newspaper poll published on Monday, the latest survey to show his sagging popularity as he struggles with a fractious party and an economy in recession.

Only 22 per cent of those polled over the weekend by the Asahi newspaper backed Mr Aso, who took office in September after his unpopular predecessor resigned in the face of a divided parliament that is stymying policies in the world's second-biggest economy. Mr Aso's support fell 15 points from November.

Main opposition Democratic Party leader Ichiro Ozawa outranked Mr Aso 35 per cent to 30 per cent in the survey when voters were asked which of them was most suitable to be premier.

The survey was the latest to show that policy flip-flops and gaffes have eroded the popularity of the 68-year-old Aso, chosen by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in hopes he could break the political deadlock in an election due by September 2009.

Asked which party they would vote for in the next election, only 28 per cent of those polled by the Asahi opted for the LDP while 36 per cent chose the Democrats. Just over half of the respondents said an election should be held soon.

Mr Aso's declining support has undermined his control over the long-ruling LDP, with many pushing for heftier spending to prop up the floundering economy despite a huge public debt, and others hinting at leaving to form new parties in hopes of bettering their chances in the looming election.

Mr Aso has postponed calling a snap election for parliament's lower house that political analysts have said the LDP and its junior partner are in danger of losing. -- REUTERS