Danish PM to be new NATO chief

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said today he would resign in the next few days after accepting the job as NATO secretary-general, and said he wanted Finance Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen to replace him.

At a news conference in the French city of Strasbourg, Fogh Rasmussen said he was convinced that Lokke Rasmussen would be an excellent leader of Denmark's ruling centre-right coalition.

"Over his long period in politics, Lars has amassed impressive and broad political knowledge. As a minister he has lead a number of extensive reforms. He knows how the political machine works and he's a great communicator," Fogh Rasmussen said.

"He will be a fantastic prime minister," he said.

Lokke Rasmussen, who is deputy party leader of Fogh's Liberal Party, is expected to continue his predecessor's pro-growth and tax cuts policies but will face the difficult task of leading negotiations for a global climate treaty in the Danish capital Copenhagen in December.

His government's mandate expires in 2011, and Lokke will have to try to lead the Liberals to a fourth consecutive victory in parliamentary elections.

He could call an early election at any time or he could wait until his mandate expires. Recent polls show his centre-right coalition is trailing the opposition.

Lokke also has to decide whether to keep his predecessor's promise to hold a referendum on Denmark's European Union opt-outs, including the euro, during this parliamentary term.