Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi will not remain in Monday's cabinet reshuffle, Kyodo News said.  

Taro Aso, minister for public management, home affairs, posts and telecommunications, is set to stay on, it said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi decided to keep Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda untouched.

Kawaguchi, 63, was transferred as environment minister to the post in February 2002, replacing sacked Makiko Tanaka. She survived the second reshuffle in September 2003.

Koizumi has been under pressure from his ruling Liberal Democratic Party to replace Kawaguchi as she is not a lawmaker.

The reshuffled cabinet roster is to be announced around 3 PM (0600 GMT).

(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2004)