Former Japanese Premier Abe Wins LDP Leadership Election

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, joins hands with a contender Shigeru Ishiba after winning the party leadership election of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012. Abe, known as a hawk and nationalist, defeated ex-defense chief Ishiba in a run-off election Wednesday by a vote of 108-89 to become president of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party. <AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye>

Lawmakers of Japan’s main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) raise their hands at the end of the party’s presidential election, at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Sept. 26, 2012. Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe beat his rival ex-Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba to win the presidential election of the LDP here Wednesday.

Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gives a speech after winning in the presidential election of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Sept. 26, 2012. <Xinhua/Kenichiro Seki>

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