Dutch set for election after far-right party withdraws support

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has tendered his government's resignation to Queen Beatrix after the collapse of a parliamentary agreement with a far-right party.

The resignation had been expected since the weekend when Rutte admitted that his Government's rift with the Freedom Party would likely lead to early elections.

While not part of the ruling coalition, Anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders party had guaranteed the government's majority for the last 18 months by agreeing to support it in parliament.

That arrangement ended following the collapse of talks on new austerity measures.