TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi appointed Shinzo Abe as Japan's top government spokesman in a cabinet reshuffle on Monday, strengthening the popular Abe's position as a candidate to succeed the prime minister next year.
Koizumi, who led his Liberal Democratic Party to a landslide win in a general election last month, has said he will step down when his term as party head ends next September and that he would appoint potential successors to key posts in the reshuffle.