WORLD - Norse Prime Minister Resigns

OSLO — 

Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, the country’s first woman prime minister, resigned today as head of a minority Labor government, clearing the way for a center-right coalition to take power.

Brundtland, 50, handed her government’s resignation to King Olav at his castle in central Oslo. The king asked Conservative leader Jan Syse to form a government.

Brundtland forged a reputation as an environmental champion and fighter for women’s rights during three difficult years of government. Although economists have credited her for much of the recent economic recovery, the price has been record jobless levels of about 4%, in a country where full employment has been an almost holy tradition. Norway’s voters clearly thought the price too high.