Japan main opposition party in lower house signals breakup

TOKYO - Japan's largest opposition party in the powerful House of Representatives will likely split just seven months after its formation, following the collapse of talks on a full merger, its leader all but confirmed Monday.

Established in the run-up to the February general election, the Centrist Reform Alliance brought together lower house lawmakers from the left-leaning Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party, which was the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's coalition partner for 26 years.