Belarusian govt resigns

MINSK. Feb 3 (Interfax) - The Belarusian government has resigned, the government press service said on Monday.

"The Belarusian government has resigned. [Prime Minister] Roman Golovchenko has signed the respective resolution," the press service said.

The government tendered its resignation to the president-elect in accordance with the constitution. The resolution takes effect on the adoption date.

The presidential election took place in Belarus on January 26. According to the Belarusian Central Elections Commission, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won the election. This is the seventh term for Lukashenko, who has been in office since 1994.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has tasked the resigned government with fulfilling its duties until the new government is formed, the presidential administration said.

"Seeking to ensure smooth operation of the executive authorities, the head of state, guided by Part 7 Article 84 and Part 11 Article 106 of the Constitution, issued an executive order to task the prime minister, his deputies, ministers, chairmen of state committees and the chief of staff of the Council of Ministers with fulfilling their duties until the new government is formed," the presidential order On Powers of the Government of the Republic of Belarus said.

As before, the government includes chairmen of the State Control Committee, the National Statistics Committee, the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences, and the Board of the Belarusian Union of Consumer Societies ex officio.

Consistent with the Belarusian constitution, the government tendered its resignation to the president-elect on February 3.

The Belarusian Central Elections Commission confirmed results of the January 26 presidential election on Monday. Incumbent President Lukashenko won the election with 86.82% of the vote. This is the seventh term of Lukashenko, who has been in office since 1994.