Brussels  - The five political parties which made up Belgian's last two governments have agreed to renew their coalition, the man tasked with forming the next administration said Monday.

After talks with the leaders of the parties which made up the last government, Dutch-speaking conservative Herman van Rompuy, 61, told local media that the quintet had agreed in principle to continue their former coalition, though the details remained to be finalized.

Brussels  - The man charged with leading Belgium out of its political crisis has finished his mission, but the results are not yet clear, the palace of King Albert II announced Sunday.

Former prime minister Wilfried Martens, 72, tasked by the king with heading talks on a new government after the old one collapsed a week ago, "made a report on the results of his mission" on Sunday afternoon, a terse statement from the palace said.

It is the first time that the palace has spoken of results from the mission, having hitherto spoken only of "developments."

Brussels  - Belgian's King Albert II on Monday formally accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yves Leterme.

According to palace reports, Leterme was asked to stay on as a caretaker until a new government can be formed.

Leterme's resignation follows accusations that his government tried to prevent a court from blocking the sale of the country's troubled Fortis bank to BNP Paribas of France.

Brussels  - K

Brussels  - The scandal over the sale of Belgium's troubled Fortis bank prompted Prime Minister Yves Leterme to propose the entire government resign Friday, the Belga news agency said.

The proposal came after Leterme called a crisis session of ministers following the resignation of Justice Minister Jo Vandeuzen, who also acts as Belgium's minister for institutional reform.

The latest moves followed accusations that the government had tried to influence a December 12 court ruling over the sale of Fortis to BNP Paribas.

Brussels - NATO and Russia are expected to resume direct talks at ambassadorial level in January, an alliance spokeswoman said Friday.

"The (NATO) secretary general is now looking at a date for an informal meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at ambassadors' level in mid-January," Carmen Romero told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Her comments came after an informal lunchtime meeting between NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's ambassador to NATO.

The meeting in Brussels was the first of its kind since NATO broke off formal ties with Russia over the August conflict in Georgia.