Koizumi to run for LDP presidenc

Junichiro Koizumi, together with Keizo Obuchi and Seiroku Kajiyama, emerge July 17 to run for the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a post carrying with it that of prime minister under the LDP-controlled House of Representatives. The photo shows the 56-year-old health and welfare minister surrounded by reporters at his ministry.