BRUSSELS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme offered the resignation of his government on Friday over alleged interference in judicial affairs, Belgian broadcaster VRT reported.

Belgium's Prime Minister Yves Leterme arrives at the Lambermont residency ahead of a meeting in Brussels December 15, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    It is not clear whether Belgian King Albert II will accept his resignation. In July he turned down Leterme's previous resignation after the prime minister failed to bridge differences over state reforms among Dutch- and French-speaking parties.

    Earlier Friday Justice Minister Jo Vandeurzen resigned following the release of a report by president of Belgium's supreme court Ghislain Londers. According to the report, the justice minister tried to block a Brussels court ruling which froze the dismantling of financial group Fortis.

    Leterme has been under increasing pressure to resign after media revelation earlier this week that his aides attempted to prevent last week's ruling by the Brussels appeal court which froze the breakup of Fortis for 65 days.

    The court said the partial sale of Fortis to French bank BNP Paribas should not proceed before shareholders are consulted.

    In October the Leterme government brokered a deal in which 75 percent of the Fortis operations in Belgium is sold to BNP Paribasin a bid to salvage the ailing Belgian-Dutch group.

The logo of financial group Fortis NV is seen at the entrance the company's headquarters in Brussels December 14, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The Belgian government is appealing against the ruling.

    On Wednesday the entire Belgian opposition called for Leterme's resignation saying the prime minister had violated the principle of the separation of the judiciary and the government.

    Leterme, a Flemish Christian democrat, had walked a tortuous road since his party won the general elections in June last year. He became prime minister in March after nine months of difficult negotiations to form a coalition government.

    His government had come to the verge of a collapse on several occasions because the Flemish and Walloon parties disagree on plans of power devolution from the federal government to regions.

Journalists wait outside the prime minister's residence in Brussels, capital of Belgium, Dec. 19, 2008. Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme submitted resignation of his government on Friday over alleged interference in judicial affairs, Belgian broadcaster VRT reported. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan) Photo Gallery>>>

Belgium awaits supreme court report over Fortis breakup row

    BRUSSELS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The supreme court on Friday was expected to issue a report concerning alleged interference with judicial affairs that could shake the government led by Prime Minister Yves Leterme.

    No one has submitted resignations after an emergency meeting of Belgian cabinet ministers that lasted until early Friday.  Full story

Belgium's supreme court says PM attempted to hamper justice

    BRUSSELS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Belgium seems to be plunged into another crisis as the country's supreme court said Thursday that Prime Minister Yves Leterme had attempted to block a court ruling regarding the Fortis bank.

    In a letter to the lower house of the Belgian parliament, Belgium's supreme court president Ghislain Londers said that "everything possible" had been done to try to prevent the deliveryof a ruling by the Brussels Court of Appeals which froze the breakup of Fortis for 65 days.  Full story

Belgian King Albert II (4th R Front) poses with members of the new cabinet in this file photo taken on March 20, 2008. Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme submitted resignation of his government on Dec. 19, 2008 over alleged interference in judicial affairs, Belgian broadcaster VRT reported. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)Photo Gallery>>>