Voters in Japan's second largest city, Osaka, have elected the country's first female governor.

Fusae Ota, a candidate backed by parties of the central government's ruling coalition, beat off two rivals in the election. A coalition-backed candidate also looks set to have won the race in the ancient city of Kyoto. Correspondents say the good showing by the coalition will strengthen the ability of the embattled prime minister, Keizo Obuchi, to call a general election on his own terms.

The opposition is currently boycotting parliament in protest at government proposals to reduce the number of MPs. An election must be held in Japan by mid-October.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service