Belgians premier resigns as economic plans falter

Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried Martens has offered his coalition Cabinet's resignation t King Baudouin after failing to secure its approval of his economic policies.

The six-party coalition collapsed after Mr. Martens refused to cut back social security spending by as much as the right-wing Liberals demanded. The socialist groups in the coalition would not accept cuts in unemployment benefits , while the Liberals were against raising industry's social charges, both proposals to avoid the impasse. This is the third government Mr. Martens has headed since early last year.