Tokyo, Sep 25 (DPA) Shinzo Abe, the newly elected president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has named the party's top policymaker as its secretary-general and his right-hand man, party sources said Monday.

Veteran politician Hidenao Nakagawa, 62, currently heads the LDP Policy Research Council and is a mentor to Abe.

Nakagawa had a political setback in 2000 when he was criticised over magazine reports regarding his extramarital affairs and connections with an extreme right-wing group. He resigned from the post of chief cabinet secretary in July 2000.

Abe also appointed Shoichi Nakagawa, 53, who served as agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister in the previous cabinet, as chairman of the Policy Research Council.

Shoichi Nakagawa, who shares Abe's hawkish stance against North Korea, agrees with the next prime minister on revising the pacifist constitution.

Abe appointed former health and welfare minister Yuya Niwa, 62, as chairman of LDP's decision-making General Council.

Abe, 52, takes office Tuesday as prime minister, replacing Junichiro Koizumi who is stepping down.