Romanian president picks new PM

Romania will hold presidential elections on 22 November

Romanian President Traian Basescu has nominated a new prime minister to replace Emil Boc, who was ousted by parliament earlier this week.

Mr Basescu nominated monetary policy adviser Lucian Croitoru, 52, who has links to the Liberal Democrats.

If approved by parliament, he will run an interim government until presidential elections on 22 November.

Mr Boc's government lost its majority when its coalition allies pulled out earlier this month.

His government fell after a vote of no confidence on Tuesday - the first since the end of communist rule in 1989 - was passed by 254 votes to 176.

Romania has been hit hard by the global economic recession and is dependant on an IMF loan to pay state salaries.

Mr Boc had been struggling to pass economic and social reforms which were a condition of the IMF loan.

His Liberal Democrats (PD-L) and the Social Democrat Party (PSD) had ruled in coalition since elections last December.

But the PSD withdrew on 1 October in protest at the sacking of the interior minister.