The Liberal Party, the smallest member of the ruling coalition, appears to be splitting up.

At least 11 of its lawmakers on Thursday made clear their intention to remain in the coalition, defying their maverick leader, Ichiro Ozawa, who has been suggesting defection.

Following the collapse of electoral cooperation talks between the 50-member Liberal Party and the Liberal Democratic Party last week, Ozawa suggested on Wednesday that the Liberal Party either merge with the LDP or leave the ruling camp, arguing that the party would not survive the election if it remains part of the current coalition.

However, on Thursday, senior Liberal Party member and former Home Affairs Minister Takeshi Noda told reporters he will seek to form a new party with 10 fellow Liberal Party lawmakers to stay in the LDP-led ruling coalition should Ozawa execute his defection plan. Akira Nishino, a Liberal Party member, also met with the Liberal Democratic Party's Muneo Suzuki, who heads up election matters within the LDP, and asked for electoral cooperation for those 11 Liberal Party members in the next general election.

"It all depends on Mr. Ozawa" whether the Liberals will split, said Eiichi Nakamura, who is among the 11 Ozawa dissidents. "We are saying very clearly that if (Ozawa) leaves the coalition, we will remain in the government."

Also on the defectors' list are: Toshihiro Nikai, the transport minister; Taichiro Nishikawa, a Defense Agency vice minister; and Toshiki Kaifu, a former Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Ozawa's defection from the ruling triumvirate is becoming increasingly likely as talks for electoral cooperation arrangements between the LDP and the Liberals completely broke down later in the day.

LDP executives have been indifferent to Ozawa's merger proposal. The opinion of many appears to be that Ozawa isn't worth the trouble.

Working-level talks on electoral cooperation between the two parties collapsed last week, after the LDP said it cannot coordinate candidates with the Liberal Party in 16 of the 26 single-seat constituencies where the Liberal Party demands such cooperation.

The LDP had promised the Liberals on Wednesday that the party will reconsider the plan and reach a conclusion on the issue by Friday.

During the talks between the secretaries general of the two parties on Thursday, LDP Secretary General Yoshiro Mori notified his Liberal Party counterpart Hirohisa Fujii that the LDP cannot concede any further the Liberal Party's demands for electoral cooperation.

Fujii replied by saying that he understood the LDP's stance, and that Ozawa might have to meet with Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, who is the president of the LDP.

Ozawa plans to meet with Obuchi soon to convey his final decision on whether to leave the ruling bloc or not, according to Liberal Party officials.

Earlier in the day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki announced that Obuchi will meet with its ally at any time necessary, while an LDP source suggested that the top-level talks will be held as early as today. (Friday) Though Obuchi's LDP will be able to secure a majority in both houses of the Diet with its other partner New Komeito, Ozawa's defection from the the ruling coalition is likely to deal a severe blow to Obuchi's government, which has already been suffering from sagging popularity.

According to an opinion poll by the Yomiuri Shimbun released Wednesday, 62.5 percent of Japanese disapprove of the coalition, with only 28 percent expressing support.

The LDP and the Liberal Party formed a coalition government in January 1999, and New Komeito joined the alliance last October.

Lower House members' terms will expire Oct. 19.