Japan PM faces resignation call

Mr Kato could bring down the government

Japan's beleagured Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori faces a vote of no confidence on Monday, with the leader of a rebellion in his own party vowing to back it.

Those of like mind will follow me

Koichi Kato

Rebel leader Koichi Kato said he believed his supporters would follow him in an act of defiance that could unseat the government and split the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Mr Kato heads the multi-group LDP's second-biggest faction, which has 45 members.

There is no need to run away

Yoshiro Mori

If they - and 19 others who back a close ally - join the opposition, the motion will pass the 480-seat Lower House.

Should Mr Mori lose the vote, he must either resign or call a general election, something observers say the LDP is keen to avoid given its current poor image with voters.

Wavering LDP party members have been warned they could face expulsion if they vote with the opposition.

Swords drawn

The premier is standing firm and has promised a fight.

"I will respond squarely [to a no-confidence vote]. There is no need to run away," he told reporters in Brunei, where he was attending a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.

A glum looking Mr Mori at the Apec summit

He is reported to have the support of mainstream groups within his party, but analysts say the outcome of any vote is too close to call.

Since taking office in April, Mr Mori has seen his poll ratings plummet after a string of verbal gaffes and the resignation of two cabinet ministers over scandals.

Mr Kato has argued that Japan will continue to sink economically if it does not embrace radical structural reforms and open up its political system.

Last week he announced that he was challenging Mr Mori for the leadership of the LDP.

The BBC Tokyo correspondent says Mr Kato's campaign is a departure from traditional political struggles in Japan which have tended to take place behind close doors.