Japan PM Ishiba decides to step down

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed his intention to resign in order to avoid further division within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), national broadcaster reported Sunday.

The decision comes just one day before the party is set to determine on Sept. 8 whether to hold an extraordinary presidential election. Ishiba is scheduled to hold a press conference on Sunday evening.Within the LDP, 130 of the party's 295 Diet members are said to support holding an emergency leadership contest.