Left leader warns of 'end of Belgium'

Belgium has been governed by a caretaker administration since the June 13 elections failed to decide a clear winner.

The New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), which represents the country's Dutch-speaking north and advocates an "orderly break-up" of the country, emerged as the largest parliamentary block - but the French-speaking Socialists won the elections in the Francophone south.

For the last seven weeks Socialist leader Elio di Rupo has struggled to win N-VA leader Bart de Wever's support for a joint government programme.

After the talks collapsed on Friday and King Albert II accepted Mr di Rupo's resignation as prospective prime minister, the Socialist leader Laurette Onkelinx said preparations had to made for the "end of Belgium - we cannot ignore that it is what is wanted by a large swathe of the Flemish population."

Rudy Demotte, premier of French-speaking Wallonia, sounded a similar warning.

But commentators believe there is still a possibility that the Socialists and the N-VA could broker a deal.

This would balance Flemish demands for more powers in Dutch-speaking Flanders with the concerns of French speakers, who fear that their poorer region will suffer from devolution.

On Saturday King Albert II again asked the leaders of both houses of parliament to begin a new round of talks today.

After previous federal elections in 2007 it took ministers over eight months to establish a government.

Belgium gained independence from the Netherlands in 1830, but the union of French and Dutch speakers has long been uneasy.

The country's constitution was amended five times from the 1970s onwards to grant more regional autonomy to Dutch and French-speakers.

The two sides gained self-rule in cultural affairs, urban development, the environment, agriculture, employment, energy, culture, sports and research.

But Dutch speakers now seek autonomy in social security, taxation and health care. If they succeed the powers of central government would be seriously diminished.