Prime Minister Taro Aso and 17 other Cabinet ministers resigned en masse Wednesday, paving the way for the launch of a new coalition government scheduled later in the day.

Outgoing Prime Minister Taro Aso (Front) arrives at his official residence in Tokyo, capital of Japan, on Sept. 16, 2009. Taro Aso and his Cabinet resigned en masse Wednesday, ahead of the launch of a coalition government led by the Democratic Party of Japan. [Ren Zhenglai/Xinhua]

As the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) secured a landslide victory in the Aug. 30 lower house election, the DPJ-led coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and People's New Party (PNP) is set to assume the reins of government.

At the special Diet session to be held later in the day, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama will be voted in as the new prime minister. And he is expected to launch the tripartite cabinet shortly after he assumes the premiership.

Outgoing Prime Minister Taro Aso arrives at his official residence in Tokyo, capital of Japan, on Sept. 16, 2009. Taro Aso and his Cabinet resigned en masse Wednesday, ahead of the launch of a coalition government led by the Democratic Party of Japan.[Ren Zhenglai/Xinhua]

Aso, who also resigned as president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Wednesday, launched his Cabinet on Sept. 24, 2008, following the abrupt resignation of his predecessor Yasuo Fukuda. His administration lasted almost a year.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2009)