The opposition Liberal Party has decided to specify its basic views on Japan's Constitution by the end of the year as a step toward proposing a new Constitution for the country, party sources said Saturday.

The party plans to set forth its stance on 12 key areas, including the ideal state of the nation and the Emperor system, the sources said.

By stipulating concise views on these issues, the party is apparently hoping to spur debate on whether or not Japan should revise its postwar Constitution.

Outspoken party leader Ichiro Ozawa suggested revising the Constitution in a monthly magazine last year.

He proposed that Article 9, in which Japan renounces war, include a clause allowing Japan to exercise its right to self-defense and retain forces to counter an armed attack by another country.

The controversial article says "the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes."