Dutch government resigns after immigration row

THE Dutch government resigned yesterday amid infighting over a failed attempt to strip a prominent Somali-born critic of Islam of her Dutch citizenship — setting the stage for elections likely to be dominated by immigration issues.

Minor coalition party D-66 torpedoed the government on Thursday when it refused to work with hardline Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk and accused her of damaging the country’s reputation with her bungled attempt to revoke Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s passport.

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende visited Queen Beatrix yesterday morning to tell her of his government’s decision to resign. No date for elections was immediately announced.