Aso announces bid to lead Japan's ruling party

Japan's brash, right-leaning former foreign minister announced Friday that he would run for ruling party president in a move that would put him on track to take over as Japan's next prime minister.
Taro Aso, 67, is widely considered the front-runner to replace struggling Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who announced Monday that he would step down amid sagging poll numbers and troubles with the split parliament.
A former Olympic skeetshooter, Aso is focusing his campaign on Japan's troubled economy, which is suffering from stagnating growth, weak consumer spending and inflation.
"The recovery of the domestic economy and clearing the unease of the people, these are the things we have to address in the election," Aso told reporters Friday.
Aso's candidacy for the Sept. 22 vote in the Liberal Democratic Party was widely expected.