TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won a landslide victory in Sunday's election for parliament's lower house.
They won 296 seats, the Kyodo news agency said.
The main opposition Democratic Party struggled, finishing a distant second with 113 seats, Kyodo said.
Before the 480-memberlower house was dissolved the LDP held 249 seats, coalition partner New Komeito had 34 and the Democrats' 175.
But 37 LDP rebels who voted against postal reform were refused a place on the party ticket by Koizumi.
