Japan''s government, headed by Premier Taro Aso, resigned in a body on Wednesday on the strength of a decision taken at a Cabinet meeting here.

The resignation of the government is ushering in a long chain of parliament procedures during which Yukio Hatoyama, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), will be elected to the premiership later in the day.

The DPJ was earlier in the opposition but emerged victorious in the country''s generail elections on August 30.

Also Wednesday, Hatoyama is to announce a list of his Cabinet members.