Luxembourg sticks to referendum

A majority of French voters rejected the constitution

Luxembourg is to go ahead with a referendum on the European constitution next month, despite an EU agreement to extend the deadline for ratification.

Luxembourg currently holds the presidency of the European Union and is due to go to the polls on 10 July.

Political leaders agreed to continue as planned despite polls suggesting the "No" campaign had gained ground.

Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker has said he will resign if his country rejects the text.

The future of the constitution, which has already been ratified by nine of the 25 EU member states, was thrown into turmoil after French and Dutch voters rejected the treaty.

Sweden, Finland and Portugal joined the UK, Denmark, Ireland and the Czech Republic in announcing plans to postpone their own efforts to ratify the treaty.

EU leaders at the summit in Brussels last week agreed to extend the November 2006 deadline to ratify the treaty until at least mid-2007.