Belgian king refuses to accept PM's resignation (AFP)

BRUSSELS (AFP) - Belgium's King Albert II on Thursday refused to accept Prime Minister Yves Leterme's resignation after consulting ministers on the best way to end the political crisis, a palace spokesman said. Flemish Christian Democrat Leterme resigned late Monday after four months in office, unable to resolve a dispute between Belgium's Dutch-speaking Flemish majority and its French-speaking minority. He will now keep his job and must oversee the implementation of social reforms only recently agreed by the coalition government formed in March. The king designated Francophone ministers Francois-Xavier de Donnea and Raymond Langendries as well as Karl-Heinz Lambertz, head of Belgium's small German-speaking community, to kickstart an "institutional dialogue," a palace statement said. The three have been asked "to examine in... [read full story]