Polish crisis as ministers resign

Prime Minister Buzek is under pressure to resign

Five Polish government ministers have resigned after becoming disillusioned with the pace of reform.

But Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek has called the resignations "highly irresponsible" and is refusing to accept them.

The move is aimed at preventing his government plunging into a major crisis which could jeopardise the country's bid to join the European Union.

The resignations - including the foreign minister and the finance minister - come from the junior coalition party, the Freedom Union.

The party is holding the door open to patch up the row.

Reform

The Freedom Union wants Mr Buzek's AWS Solidarity party to impose a whip forcing deputies to vote with the government.

It is also calling for the AWS to move forward with reform plans in time to join the European Union.

Freedom Union leader Leszek Balcerowicz led his party out of government

The prime minister's refusal to accept the resignations means that negotiations can be reopened.

"I expect them to continue their tasks fully and I will give the coalition time to try to reach a settlement," he told reporters.

Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, a popular figure on the world stage, is closely identified with Poland's international standing.

Diplomats say his departure would affect the country's credibility.

The crisis is the worst since Mr Buzek's government was formed in late 1997.

Respected

Finance Minister Leszek Balcerowicz, father of Poland's far-reaching economic reforms in the post-communist era, is highly respected in international financial circles.

His resignation could undermine foreign confidence in Poland as the leading economy of central and eastern Europe.

He was scheduled on Tuesday to meet his French and German counterparts, Laurent Fabius and Hans Eichel, for regular trilateral consultations.

The European Commission in Brussels is already concerned about possible delays.

A snap election would be dangerous for the AWS, which has only 186 deputies in the 460-seat Diet and has relied on the Freedom Union's 59 deputies to maintain a working majority.