Brussels  - Belgium's King Albert II on Tuesday swore in a five-party government almost identical to the scandal-hit administration which fell on December 19, palace officials confirmed.

The move came just hours after the five parties which made up Belgium's last government agreed to re-form their alliance under a new premier, Dutch-speaking conservative Herman van Rompuy, 61.

Brussels - The five political parties which made up Belgium's last government agreed on Tuesday to re-form their administration under a new premier, 10 days after the last one fell.

After two days of talks, the leaders of the Dutch- and French- speaking conservatives and liberals and the French-speaking socialists agreed to form a government led by Dutch-speaking conservative Herman van Rompuy, 61, the former leader of parliament.

The new government is set to be sworn in later on Tuesday afternoon, sources at the palace of King Albert II confirmed to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Once sworn in, van Rompuy will be the third premier to head the ill-starred coalition this year.

Brussels - The European Union's executive on Tuesday approved a German plan to stave off recession by offering firms over 15 billion euros (21.3 billion dollars) in low-interest loans, officials confirmed.

The European Commission, which oversees the EU's strict rules on state aid and fair competition, decided that the plan was appropriate to "remedy a serious disturbance in the economy," a press release issued in Brussels said.

The German plan consists of a loan fund of up to 15 billion euros for companies which have difficulties in borrowing money due to the global financial squeeze.

Brussels  - The five political parties which made up Belgian's last two governments have agreed to renew their coalition, the man tasked with forming the next administration said Monday.

After talks with the leaders of the parties which made up the last government, Dutch-speaking conservative Herman van Rompuy, 61, told local media that the quintet had agreed in principle to continue their former coalition, though the details remained to be finalized.

Brussels  - The man charged with leading Belgium out of its political crisis has finished his mission, but the results are not yet clear, the palace of King Albert II announced Sunday.

Former prime minister Wilfried Martens, 72, tasked by the king with heading talks on a new government after the old one collapsed a week ago, "made a report on the results of his mission" on Sunday afternoon, a terse statement from the palace said.

It is the first time that the palace has spoken of results from the mission, having hitherto spoken only of "developments."

Brussels  - Belgian's King Albert II on Monday formally accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yves Leterme.

According to palace reports, Leterme was asked to stay on as a caretaker until a new government can be formed.

Leterme's resignation follows accusations that his government tried to prevent a court from blocking the sale of the country's troubled Fortis bank to BNP Paribas of France.