Japanese Cabinet to be reshuffled

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi plans to reshuffle his Cabinet on Monday, a ruling party official said Friday. The reshuffling was widely expected to come soon after parliament earlier this month approved Koizumi's plan to privatize the postal service.

An official at the Liberal Democratic Party said the new Cabinet would be named on Monday, following reports that Koizumi released the schedule at a meeting of LDP executives, the AP says.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity, citing party rules.

The LDP won a landslide victory in Sept. 11 elections for the powerful lower house of parliament.

Media reports have speculated Koizumi will put his favored successors in prominent positions. Despite his popularity, the prime minister says he will step down when his term ends next September.

On photo: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

T.E.