Japan PM's successor likely picked September 19 -NHK

TOKYO, Sep 12 (Reuters) Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is likely to pick a successor to outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on September 19, public broadcaster NHK reported today.

The party will pick a new leader, who will be the new prime minister because his party leads Japan's ruling coalition.

Abe abruptly announced today his resignation after a year in power dogged by scandals, an election rout and a crisis over Japan's support for US-led operations in Afghanistan.

REUTERS CS BST1255