Japan PM Naoto Kan survives leadership challenge

Tokyo, Sep 14: Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan was on Tuesday, Sep 14 re-elected as President of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), surviving a challenge to his leadership.

Under the DPJ's complex voting formula, which gives different weight to members of parliament, lawmakers, local assembly members and party members, Kan won 721 points against DPJ kingpin Ichiro Ozawa's 491.

A total 1,222 points were up for grabs, from which three votes were counted as invalid.

According to Xinhua news agency, Kan was way ahead of Ozawa in terms of support from local DPJ lawmakers and party members, as well as far more popular among the general public.

The Japanese leader has been in office for just three months.

ANI