A new leadership of Japan's largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) was formally launched on Tuesday, with Ichiro Ozawa as new president and Naoto Kan appointed as deputy president.

"I will endeavor to enhance the political power of the DPJ," Ozawa was quoted by the Kyodo News as saying after the meeting of party member lawmakers, which approved the new leadership.

Kan also expressed his wish to make the DPJ the ruling party of Japan.

Ozawa beat his only rivalry Naoto Kan on Friday's presidential voting within party member lawmakers. Ozawa won 119 votes, while Kan received 72.

The move came after Seiji Maehara resigned as leader of the DPJ on March 31 to take responsibility of false accusations a member lawmaker made towards the ruling party.

Party executives were also appointed at the meeting, with Yukio Hatoyama resuming the post of secretary general and Takeaki Matsumoto as the policy chief. Kozo Watanabe was reappointed as the Diet Affairs Committee chief.

Founded on April 27, 1998, the DPJ the second largest party in Japan, occupying 113 seats in House of Representatives and 82 in House of Councilors. It has seen a series of leadership changes in the past few years.

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2006)