TOKYO - Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Hatoyama is set to be voted in as Japan's new prime minister Wednesday and to launch a coalition government with two minor parties immediately afterward, officially wresting control from the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party.

The coalition government of the DPJ, the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party will be the first government to be led by a party other than the LDP in the past 16 years. The LDP governed Japan from 1955, except for a period of about 11 months from 1993 to 1994.

---------- Aso's Cabinet resigns en masse before launch of DPJ-led gov't

TOKYO - Prime Minister Taro Aso and the members of his Cabinet resigned en masse Wednesday, ahead of the scheduled launch later in the day of a coalition government led by the Democratic Party of Japan.

Aso launched his Cabinet on Sept. 24 last year, following the abrupt resignation of his predecessor Yasuo Fukuda.

---------- LDP, battered by election defeat, to seek renewal in opposition

TOKYO - The Liberal Democratic Party, which led postwar Japan to an economic miracle, is set to begin its renewal process as an opposition party Wednesday with the launch of a new government led by the rival Democratic Party of Japan.

Prime Minister Taro Aso and 17 other Cabinet ministers will resign en masse at a special Cabinet meeting in the morning to pave the way for DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's election as new prime minister at a special session of parliament in the afternoon. Aso will also resign as party leader in the morning.

---------- U.S. wants Japan to continue refueling mission in Indian Ocean

WASHINGTON - The United States wants Japan to continue its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan, the Defense Department said Tuesday.

"We, as an old ally of Japan's, believe that their contribution to the war on terror, to the world's efforts in Afghanistan, is vitally important, and we would like to see them continue it," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.

---------- U.N. General Assembly opens, new president urges U.N. reform

NEW YORK - Libyan diplomat Ali Treki, the new president of the U.N. General Assembly, called for an overhaul of the world body, including the Security Council, as the assembly opened its 64th session Tuesday.

"The United Nations and, in particular, the General Assembly, is the way to a better future. People of all colors, religions and origin must cooperate and engage in dialogue through our organization," former Libyan Foreign Minister Treki said in a speech delivered at the opening of the new General Assembly session.

---------- Clinton to lead U.S. delegation to nuke conference next week

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will lead the U.S. delegation at a conference on an international treaty to ban nuclear tests to be held Sept. 24-25 in New York, the White House said Tuesday.

It will be the first U.S. appearance at the conference on pushing for the entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 10 years. Since 1999, the conference has been held every other year without the U.S. presence.