Portugal premier's offer to resign is under review

Portuguese President Antonio Ramalho Eanes said he wanted time to consider Prime Minister Francisco Pinto Balsemao's offer to resign.

Tuesday, General Eanes reportedly met with Mr. Balsemao, who offered his resignation because of infighting among his right-wing Democratic Alliance cabinet ministers. The President is faced with the choice of calling on the alliance to find a new leader or dissolving parliament and holding early elections. Government sources said Mr. Balsemao's Social Democratic Party would be hard pressed to find a leader capable of keeping the quarreling alliance together.