Belgian prime minister offers resignation

Brussels: Belgian Prime Minister, Yves Leterme, has offered his resignation after his government failed to agree on more self-rule for Belgium's Dutch and French-speaking camps.

The VRT television network says Leterme gave his resignation to King Albert II at the royal palace. It is unclear if it would be accepted.

Leterme has been struggling to get his Cabinet to agree on proposed constitutional reforms that have paralysed Belgian politics for more than a year.

He had set a deadline of Tuesday for reaching a deal on the autonomy issues. Flemish parties want the prosperous Dutch-speaking north of Belgium to be more autonomous.