Japan's Cabinet resigns to make way for new PM
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Japan's incoming Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shinzo Abe enters his office at LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Dec 25, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
TOKYO (AP) - Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Cabinet has resigned to clear the way for a vote in parliament to formally install conservative Shinzo Abe as Japan's new leader.
The chief government spokesman said the Cabinet resigned in a special meeting on Wednesday morning.
Mr Abe led his conservative Liberal Democratic Party to victory in elections on Dec 16 after three years in opposition. He will be named prime minister later on Wednesday for his second turn at the nation's helm. He was also prime minister in 2006-2007.
Mr Abe has vowed to take bold measures to shore up the economy, deal with a swelling national debt and come up with a recovery plan following last year's devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crises.
