Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (R), president of Japan's
ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), shakes hands with his faction
leader, former prime minister Yoshiro Mori (L) as he officially kicks
off his campaign for party presidential election at the LDP
headquarters in Tokyo September 8, 2003. Three Japanese lawmakers
seeking to oust Koizumi formally launched their challenge on Monday,
but their chances of defeating the popular leader in a poll for ruling
party president seemed to be fading. REUTERS/Issei Kato

IK/RCS