Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on Friday declared his bid for re-election as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, while two other contenders -- Koichi Kato and Taku Yamasaki -- also announced their candidacies.

The LDP will hold its presidential election Sept. 21, about a week before Obuchi's tenure as LDP chief ends Sept. 30. Obuchi is currently serving out the remainder of the two-year term of his predecessor, Ryutaro Hashimoto, who quit in July 1998.

It is widely believed that Obuchi, who heads the LDP's largest faction, will win re-election easily because of support he has secured from other major faction leaders.

Declaring his candidacy at an LDP headquarters press conference, Obuchi noted the emphasis he has placed on rebuilding the economy, and pledged to do all he can to rev up the economy if he is given another two-year term.

"It is good news for people that economic conditions appear to have begun improving recently," said Obuchi, adding that he plans to keep the momentum going.

As for the coalition's plan to add New Komeito, Obuchi said he believes the alliance will be able to carry out better policies from collective wisdom and ideas.

If Obuchi succeeds in upcoming talks to bring New Komeito into the current LDP-Liberal Party bloc, his administration will secure a wide majority in both Diet chambers.

In a separate news conference, former LDP Secretary General Kato, 60, said he would not follow Obuchi's discreet, consensus-building approach if chosen LDP chief, and therefore prime minister.

"Mr. Obuchi has a traditional Japanese style of conducting politics, placing priority on listening to people and coordinating them, not pushing his own opinion," Kato said. "But I will clearly reveal my views and be glad to meet criticism for that."

He pledged to wipe out pessimism over the economy and return the nation's confidence by stressing that Japan "is safe and a nation with a future."

Kato added he would push for small government.

"In a way, I think Japan has become a socialist state," he said, citing the nation's progressive taxation system and the powerful authority enjoyed by the bureaucracy. "The Japanese people should not harbor too many expectations of the government anymore," he said.

Candidate Yamasaki places his policy priority on amending the Constitution.

"Japan must become a country that has dignity and is respected by the world," he said. "And the current Constitution makes it impossible for Japan to become such a country."

He added that the government has been too vague over the issue of self-defense and has not allowed its armed forces to go overseas to contribute in international peace operations.

Yamasaki, 62, said he will broach national security issues and the situation on the Korean Peninsula in a positive manner during his campaign.

Both candidates admitted that the the fight against Obuchi will be tough, hinting that they may have little hope to actually win the September race.

It is widely believed that both Kato and Yamasaki are joining the race more or less to circulate their names as presidential candidates in preparation for the following party election.