New rules may extend Abe premiership

TOKYO - Japan's ruling party on Sunday extended term limits for its leaders, a change that gives Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a shot at becoming Japan's longest-serving post-war leader.

Abe would have had to step down as party leader and prime minister in September next year, even if his Liberal Democratic Party were still in power.

The LDP congress approved extending the limit to three consecutive three-year terms, up from the previous two consecutive three-year term limit.