Copenhagen - Newly-chosen NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen (56) is to resign as Danish prime minister at the beginning of next week, a government spokesman in Copenhagen said on Saturday.

Rasmussen's successor as government chief is to be his colleague from the Liberal party, Lars Lokke Rasmussen (44), Denmark's current finance minister.

The new NATO chief is to take over his duties on August 1, having been chosen by the defence alliance in Strasbourg on Saturday. (dpa)