TOKYO, July 13, SPA -- Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso told ruling party leaders Monday he will dissolve parliament and holdgeneral elections next month, following a crushing defeatfor his party in Tokyo municipal polls considered abarometer of voter sentiment, The Associated Press reported. The decision came as opposition parties, emboldened by asurge in popularity, submitted a joint no-confidence motionin parliament against the prime minister and his Cabinet. Aso told leaders of his Liberal Democratic Party he wouldlikely dissolve the powerful lower house of the legislaturenext week, with a general election to be held on Aug. 30,according to Osamu Sakashita, a spokesman at the primeminister's office. The move was widely seen as a last-ditch attempt to keepthe ruling party in power after the Liberal Democrats andtheir coalition lost their majority Sunday in the TokyoMetropolitan Assembly. The assembly elections have beenclosely watched as a bellwether of what's ahead for Aso'sparty. Meanwhile, the opposition, led by the Democratic Party ofJapan, submitted the no-confidence motion to the powerfullower house of parliament, said party spokesman ToshiakiOikawa. The motion was not expected to pass and was insteadseen as a symbolic action to embarrass Aso.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/683851