Japan PM dissolves parliament paving way for election

TOKYO (AP) - Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has dissolved the lower house of Japan's parliament, paving the way for a general election likely to end his Democratic Party of Japan's three-year hold on power.

Mr Noda followed through on Friday on an earlier pledge to call elections after the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) agreed to back several key pieces of legislation, including a deficit financing bill and electoral reforms.

The Cabinet was expected to quickly announce elections for Dec 16.

The election will likely result in a weak coalition government divided over how to fix the country's myriad problems.