Romanian government falls on vote

Mr Boc said he was convinced reforms would still be passed

The government of Romania has fallen after losing a vote of no confidence, the first such a measure since the end of Communist rule in 1989.

Parliament voted 254-176 to oust Prime Minister Emil Boc's government, which lost its majority when its coalition allies pulled out earlier this month.

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

The vote followed the collapse of the ruling coalition 10 days ago.

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

Speaking after the parliamentary vote, he said it was "an honour for a government to fall for pitching reforms aimed at suppressing privileges" and that he was convinced the reforms would be passed.

Under the Romanian constitution, President Traian Basescu, a close ally of Mr Boc, will appoint a replacement prime minister to run an interim government until presidential elections on 22 November.

Mr Basescu, who is favourite to win the vote, said he intended "to keep this period of crisis as short as possible".

Mr Boc's 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 against the sacking of the interior minister.