Japan's newly elected ruling party has struck a deal with two smaller parties on key policies to form a coalition government.
A spokesman for the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) said Wednesday that the secretary generals of the three parties have resolved remaining differences over defense and foreign policies.
The DPJ won a sweeping victory in Japan's August 30 parliamentary elections, but needs support from two other smaller parties to win control of the the upper house of the country's legislature.
The DPJ's victory ended more than half a century of nearly unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.
Shortly after the elections, the DPJ began holding talks with the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party.
DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama is almost certain to become Japan's next prime minister when a vote is held in the legislature next week.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
