TOKYO, Nov. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi retained his position in the special session of the House of Representatives held Wednesday afternoon.

    Koizumi is to form a new cabinet later the day. All incumbent ministers will remain in office.

    Of the 479 votes cast at the 480-seat House of Representatives,281 went to Koizumi, and 186 to Naoto Kan, president of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).

    This was the first lower house convention after the general election held on Nov. 9.

    Koizumi was also re-elected premier in the House of Councilors.

    The ruling and opposition camps picked Yohei Kono, former president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and foreign minister, as speaker of the lower house. Kansei Nakano, a senior member of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), took the post of vice speaker.

    The special session is expected to last nine days and would discuss dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq.

    The Japanese government has suggested that the dispatch would not commence within this year due to the deteriorating security situation in Iraq. Koizumi said Tuesday that the dispatch should be carefully studied.

    Japan has sent a fact-finding team to Iraq. Local press reportssaid the government will not conclude a basic plan on this matter until the team comes back in December to the earliest.

    Koizumi also made clear resolution to push forward his controversial structural reform.

    The LDP failed to achieve a majority alone in the House of Representative election on Nov. 9, garnering 237 seats in the 480-seat lower house.

    In contrast, the DPJ secured a record 177 seats in the election,adding 40 seats.

    The LDP, however, has regained dominance by absorbing junior partner -- the New Conservative Party -- and some independents, building its seats to 245. Besides, The ruling bloc, now consisting of the LDP and the New Komeito party, still holds control of the parliament thanks to their combined 279 seats.

    Koizumi, who came to power in 2001, was re-elected president of the LDP two months ago. Theoretically, he will serve the term as premier until September 2006 when he steps down from the LDP presidency. Enditem