Conservative Liberal Democratic Party of Shinzo Abe wins Japanese election

The conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Shinzo Abe has won the Japanese election, exit polls predict, the BBC says. 

The LDP, which enjoyed almost 50 years of unbroken rule until 2009, is projected to have an overall majority in the new parliament.

Mr Abe has already served a Japan's Prime Minister between 2006 and 2007.

He campaigned on a pledge to end 20 years of economic stagnation and to direct a more assertive foreign policy at a time of tensions with China.

He is seen as a hawkish, right-of-centre leader whose previous term in office ended ignominiously amid falling popularity and a resignation on grounds of ill health.

But Japanese media project big gains for his LDP who they say are on course to win between 275 to 310 seats in the 480-member house.

Its ally, the small New Komeito party, looks set to win about 30 seats to possibly give the alliance a two-thirds majority in the lower house.