TOKYO, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Taro Aso is considering holding a general election in early August, Kyodo News reported Saturday, quoting ruling party sources.

    The prime minister floated the idea in a meeting Friday night with Akihiro Ota, leader of New Komeito, the coalition partner of Aso's Liberal Democratic Party, the sources said.

    Aso told Ota that it would be difficult to have an interval of more than one month between the July 12 Tokyo assembly election and a general election, according to the sources.

    Aso is apparently considering dissolving the House of Representatives in early or mid-July for a general election on Aug.2 or Aug. 8, the report said.

    Earlier this week, Aso told a news conference that a lower house dissolution will come "in the not-so-distant future."

    The remark was taken to indicate the prime minister is exploring the possibility of the dissolution early next month to hold a general election on Aug. 2.

    The election must be held by October as the terms of the House of Representatives members are set to expire Sept. 10.