Liberal Party leader Ichiro Ozawa may deliver another "ultimatum" to Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi as early as today over the possible withdrawal of his 51-member party from its 14 monthlong alliance with Obuchi's Liberal Democratic Party.

Ozawa told senior Liberal Party members at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on Monday that he will meet with the prime minister prior to a Wednesday evening party meeting during which Ozawa will notify the party's rank-and-file members of his intentions.

Ozawa also told party officials to state their opinions about the party's future direction before Wednesday's party meeting, according to Liberal Party Secretary General Hirohisa Fujii, who briefed reporters.

With the ruling coalition growing increasingly unpopular and many of the Liberal Party's policy demands going unheeded, Ozawa is again reportedly considering leaving the tripartite alliance, which also includes New Komeito. He is expected to urge Obuchi to promise more policy concessions to the Liberal Party or face its defection.

A Liberal Party withdrawal would mark another setback for Obuchi, although an LDP-New Komeito coalition would still maintain a majority in both Diet chambers.

Fujii said he is unaware if Ozawa has already made a decision over his party's possible departure from the alliance.

If Ozawa were to deliver an ultimatum, however, it would by the fourth time he has threatened to leave the ruling triumvirate since the alliance was formed in January last year.

Some Liberal Party members fear the party could suffer a big loss in this year's Lower House election if it campaigns as part of the ruling coalition. The coalition's approval ratings have been declining in recent polls.

Many of the party's trademark policy goals, such as national security and tax reforms, remain unrealized, while the party's working-level electoral cooperation talks with the LDP broke down last week.

Many Liberal Party lawmakers are reportedly reluctant to leave the alliance, however, and there is speculation the party may eventually split if Ozawa forces the issue.

"It just seems natural to me that the president (Ozawa), who is entrusted with the political lives of many young (Liberal Party) lawmakers, is considering every possible move," a Liberal Party senior member said, on condition of anonymity.

"Now that the (fiscal 2000) budget has cleared the Diet, all the ruling parties must find ways to survive the election amid declining public approval (for the coalition)," he said.