The beleaguered prime minister reportedly said that he didn'ttell fellow Liberal Democratic Party Leaders that he wouldresign. Instead, he proposed the idea that an LDP presidentialelection should be brought forward from the originally scheduleddate in September. Some analysts believe that he wants to stayin power into April in order not to delay the passage of newbudget and participate in the scheduled summit meetings withRussian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President George W.Bush.