TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's cabinet members resigned en masse on Wednesday to pave the way for a new government led by Shinzo Abe, who will be the new prime minister in the day.

In a cabinet meeting in the morning, all cabinet members submitted their resignations to Noda, putting an end to the three-year rule of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which swept to power in the general election held in 2009.

Noda was appointed as the third prime minister under the rule of the DPJ after he won the DPJ's presidential election held in August, 2011.

Abe, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party which defeated the DPJ in the latest general election, is expected to be the new prime minister in a special session of the Diet held on Wednesday.

The premier-in-waiting will form his cabinet immediately after he reclaims the post.