Canada opposition leader to quit

Stephane Dion's level of proficiency in English had been criticised

The leader of Canada's main opposition Liberal Party, Stephane Dion, has announced he is to resign after last week's election defeat.

Canadians re-elected the Conservative Party, led by Stephen Harper, to head a third minority government in the space of four years.

The Liberals won just 76 seats in the 308-member parliament, a loss of 19.

Mr Dion said he would remain party leader until a new contest is held to ensure a "successful transition".

The Liberals had failed to inspire voters with an ambitious green carbon tax plan, says the BBC's Lee Carter in Toronto.

Mr Dion, a French-Canadian from Quebec, also had difficulty connecting with English-speaking voters, our correspondent says.

Surprise choice

In ending the speculation about his political future that raged since the 14 October vote, Mr Dion said a new leader would be chosen at the party's spring convention.

"I will stay as leader until a new leader is chosen at a leadership convention that I have asked the party to begin to organise. I will not be a candidate for the leadership of my party at that convention," he told a news conference.

Mr Dion was a surprise winner in the Liberal Party's last leadership race in December 2006 when the former professor of politics benefited from a split in support between the two front-runners.