
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 28, 1993                   TAG: 9307280160
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: TOKYO                                LENGTH: Short

DEAL TO END PARTY'S GRIP IN JAPAN

The end of the Liberal Democratic Party's 38-year, one-party rule became a foregone conclusion on Tuesday as seven non-LDP parties agreed on a broad framework to form a coalition government.

The focus of political attention has now shifted to whom the non-LDP force will choose as the nation's next prime minister.

Political sources said moves to promote Morihiro Hosokawa, head of the Japan New Party, as a candidate are gaining support among a five-party alliance consisting of the Social Democratic Party of Japan, the Shinseito-Japan Renewal Party, Komeito (the Clean Government Party), the Democratic Socialist Party and the United Social Democratic Party.

The LDP's last hope for clinging to power was dashed when the Shinto Sakigake party clearly came out in favor of the proposed opposition coalition on Tuesday.

- Asahi News Service

by CNB