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.
^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~53~RS~)