Belgium Asks Ex-Premier To Form New Government

From AP:

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — Belgium on Monday turned to a veteran politician to broker a new government after a scandal over the botched bailout of the Fortis bank forced the ruling coalition to resign.

King Albert II accepted the government's resignation after three days of negotiations with Belgium's political leaders failed to keep the coalition intact. In a bid to avoid early elections, he asked former Premier Wilfried Martens to act as a go-between to broker a new coalition.

"It is an exploratory task to try and seek agreement," Martens said.

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