Japan parliament convenes Sep 26 to pick PM-Kyodo

TOKYO, Sep 5 (Reuters) Japan's parliament is likely to convene on 26 this month to select a new prime minister, Kyodo news agency said on Tuesday, citing parliamentary sources.

Parliament is due to meet after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election slated for 20 this month. The winner of the LDP race is effectively guaranteed the premiership due to the party's iron grip on the powerful lower house of parliament.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe is the runaway favourite in the race to succeed current Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi as head of the party.

Whoever is nominated by parliament as the new prime minister on 26 this month is likely to form a new cabinet the same day, according to the Kyodo report.

REUTERS MS RN1923