Japan's ruling party picks deputy

Shinzo Abe is set to become PM on Tuesday

Japan's ruling Liberal Democrat Party has selected a senior adviser to the prime minister-in-waiting, Shinzo Abe, as its deputy leader.

Hidenao Nakagawa becomes the party's new secretary-general and election campaign manager.

Mr Abe was chosen as the head of the LDP last week - a position which almost guarantees he will replace Junichiro Koizumi as premier on Tuesday.

At 51, he will be the nation's first leader born after World War II.

Mr Nakagawa played a major role in securing Mr Abe's win in last week's party election.

Correspondents say that, as the party's policy chief, he also played an important role in shaping Mr Koizumi's economic agenda.

Mr Abe named former health and welfare minister Yuya Niwa as chairman of the General Council, and farm minister Shoichi Nakagawa as head of the influential Policy Research Council.

The LDP will endorse the appointments of these three executives at a special meeting later on Monday.