21 Sep 2012

Japanese PM sees off challengers

10:07 pm on 21 September 2012

Japanese prime minister Yoshihiko Noda has survived a leadership challenge in the governing Democratic Party.

He easily beat three contenders for the top job with two-thirds of the vote.

Mr Noda is Japan's sixth prime minister in as many years.

The party's rules say there needs to be a leadership election every two years.