Belgium may be headed for elections

BRUSSELS, April 27 (UPI) -- National elections may be held just weeks before Belgium is scheduled to take over the European Union's rotating presidency July 1, political observers say.

Belgium's King Albert II has been forced to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Yves Leterme after failure to work out a compromise, the EUobserver reported Tuesday.

Leterme tendered his resignation last week after the Flemish Liberal party pulled out of his ruling coalition government in a dispute over the linguistic status of suburbs surrounding Brussels.

Linguistic disputes between Belgium's French and Dutch speaking politicians is an old source of political trouble.

King Albert asked the deputy prime minister to find a compromise solution but the king was told Monday that one could not be reached. He then was forced to accept Leterme's resignation.

Analysts say elections will have to be held in June at the earliest unless a new coalition can be formed.