Belgium King Accepts Yves Leterme's Resignation

King Albert II of Belgium and his cabinet secretary Jacques Van Yperseel de Strihou (R) leave Laeken/Laken Royal Castle. The king has accepted the resignation of Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Belgium's King Albert has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yves Leterme's government after the collapse of the ruling coalition, officials say.

A statement from the palace said Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders had asked to be relieved of his mission to mediate in the political crisis.

Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme decided to resign last Thursday after a key partner withdrew from his governing coalition.

The collapse of the government threw into doubt the scheduled parliamentary debate on a law that would ban full-face Muslim veils being worn in public.

It would have been the first such law introduced by a European country.

The coalition fell apart after the Flemish liberal party, Open VLD, withdrew over a long-running dispute on the rights of French speakers living in Dutch-speaking areas near the capital Brussels.

"There was no other choice but for the government to resign," Finance Minister Didier Reynders told reporters.

It is the third time Leterme, 49, has offered his resignation to the king.

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