Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has formally decided to have the presidential election on Sept. 22 to pick a successor to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, said Takashi Sasagawa, chairman of the LDP's General Council on Wednesday.

And the official campaigns is scheduled to kick off on Sept. 10, Sasagawa said at a press conference.

Taro Aso, secretary general of the LDP, and Former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike have indicated their willingness to run for the LDP chief in the election to succeed Fukuda, and in turn assume the premiership, local media reported.

A total of 528 ballots, consisting of 387 ballots from Diet members and 141 from prefectural representatives, will be cast on the election day. And result will be read out later in the day.

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2008)