Ozawa to become DPJ secretary general: Hatoyama

TOKYO, Sept. 3 Kyodo -
Democratic Party of Japan President and Prime Minister in waiting Yukio
Hatoyama said Thursday he plans to appoint Ichiro Ozawa, currently one of the
party's acting presidents, as its secretary general.
Ozawa, the party's election campaign manager, has been credited with
engineering a resounding victory in Sunday's House of Representatives election.
Hatoyama plans to call Ozawa to the headquarters in Tokyo Thursday night to ask
him to take up the post, DPJ sources said.
But some DPJ members cautious of Ozawa's political stance have voiced concerns
that if the influential politician assumes the key post, it could lead to
further expansion of his clout within the party.
In a group interview on Aug. 31, Hatoyama indicated he may install Ozawa as
well as another acting president, Naoto Kan, into important posts in the party
leadership or the Cabinet.
Former DPJ President Ozawa has said he would follow the decision by Hatoyama,
who succeeded him in May, and will likely accept the offer.
Ozawa, 67, is a former member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, as are
the 62-year-old Hatoyama and many other DPJ members.
==Kyodo