Belgian parties fail to form govt

BRUSSELS (AFP) - Belgium's feuding political parties failed to seal a coalition deal Monday, leaving the eurozone nation without a government for 526 days amid a split over budget cuts needed to soothe jittery markets. The divided kingdom is under pressure to get its act together to avoid being sucked into the eurozone debt crisis, but six-party talks that began Sunday broke up without a deal at 2:00 am (0100 GMT) Monday. Socialist leader Elio Di Rupo, who is expected to head any new government, described the situation as "dramatic" and will mull how negotiations will next proceed, according to national news agency Belga.

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