Belgium marked a year without a full government today.

A FORMER bishop’s televised admission that he sexually abused two of his nephews has caused an uproar in Belgium, with the prime minister, senior clergy and a prosecutor expressing shock at the way the ex-prelate made light of his offences.

THE depths to which politicians can sink are on view at the heart of Europe — in Belgium.

Belgium's King Albert II has today accepted the government's resignation after the coalition of the prime minister broke down last week.

Belgian Premier Yves Leterme’s government collapsed after negotiations broke down to resolve a long-simmering dispute between Dutch- and French-speaking politicians over a bilingual voting district.

BELGIUM plunged into political crisis yesterday as Prime Minister Yves Leterme threw in the towel after a key Flemish party quit his coalition government two months before the country assumes the EU chair.

Germany became the latest country to act over the financial meltdown, with a new rescue plan for its second biggest commercial property lender and a 100% guarantee on private bank accounts.

Belgian prime minister Yves Leterme said he aims to find a new owner for troubled bank Fortis NV to restore confidence in the company before the opening of markets on Monday.

BELGIUM’S future hung in the balance last night as King Albert II considered whether to let his prime minister, Yves Leterme, resign over his failure to bridge the gulf between the country’s two linguistic communities.

The Belgian government failed to agree on more self-rule for Belgium’s Dutch and French-speaking camps, forcing Prime Minister Yves Leterme to offer King Albert the resignation of his cabinet, according to media reports.

Hundreds of farmers and lorry and taxi drivers blocked roads in Brussels today to push for help in coping with soaring fuel prices.