Fukuda elected Japan's prime minister

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TOKYO, Sept 25 (AP): Yasuo Fukuda, a quiet compromiser who has promised to bring stability and moderation to Japan's tumultuous political scene, was elected prime minister by parliament Tuesday.
The lower house of parliament voted for Fukuda, but then the upper house supported the top opposition leader, Ichiro Ozawa. After a conference committee meeting between the two chambers, the lower house officially declared Fukuda the winner.
Fukuda, the first son of a prime minister to also serve in the post, has pledged to keep Japan as a strong US ally in the fight against terrorism, improve relations with Asia, and address growing inequalities in the world's second-largest economy.
The vote thrust Fukuda, 71, into the difficult job of battling calls for snap elections, negotiating with a resurgent opposition, and rebuilding the hobbled ruling Liberal Democratic Party left behind by his nationalist predecessor, Shinzo Abe.
"The situation surrounding the LDP is very severe, and we face difficulty in keeping the government under control without cooperation from all party members," Fukuda told reporters after the election.