Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie confirmed Friday he will challenge Shizuka Kamei, one of the leading foes of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal privatization drive, in the Sept. 11 general election.

Horie, 32, will run for election in the Hiroshima No. 6 constituency as an independent candidate.

The Internet maverick unveiled his intentions at a news conference following a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who also serves as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, at LDP headquarters in Tokyo.