The European Commission has been looking into whether Electrabel abused its dominant position after reaching a nuclear power plant deal with the Belgian government, a spokesman said on Saturday.

Belgium and the Democratic Republic of Congo scrambled Friday to defuse a burgeoning scandal over diamond jewels offered by the impoverished country's government to Belgian Queen Paola.

Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme blamed the sweltering heat of Africa after posting a cryptic message on his Twitter account during a trip, sparking a frenzy of media speculation.

Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme said Thursday the costs of celebrations to mark the Democratic Republic of Congo's 50 years of independence may have been better spent on its needy citizens.

Belgium took over the EU presidency for a six-month term on Thursday, hoping to steer the 27-nation bloc out of economic crisis despite the lack of a new national government after a general election.

Belgium on Thursday assumes the EU presidency for a six-month term, hoping to help the bloc out of economic crisis despite the lack of a new national government after a general election.

Belgium's King Albert II flew into Kinshasa Monday ahead of ceremonies to mark 50 years of independence in its former central African colony, the first Belgian royal to visit in a quarter century.

A son of assassinated Congolese independence hero Patrice Lumumba on Sunday called for "clarification" of the circumstances of his father's death, saying it was needed to boost ties with former colonial ruler Belgium.

Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday accused Belgian police of "deplorable methods" for raiding a bishops' meeting as part of a paedophilia probe, as Brussels said the Vatican was over-reacting.

The sons of Congolese independence hero Patrice Lumumba said Tuesday they would seek war crimes charges against 12 Belgians they suspect of involvement in their father's assassination.

The sons of Congolese independence hero Patrice Lumumba said Tuesday they would seek war crimes charges against 12 Belgians they suspect of involvement in their father's assassination.

War-crimes charges sought 49 years later in assassination of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba. A group of legal activists formally requested war-crimes charges Monday against a dozen Belgian government officials and military officers widely suspected in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, Congo's first democratically elected prime minister.

Belgium's right-wing Flemish separatists and left-wing francophone unionists began tortuous negotiations Monday to resolve the country's future and its finances a day after sea-change elections.

Right-wing Flemish separatists and left-wing francophone unionists began tortuous negotiations on Monday to resolve federal Belgium's future and its finances.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgium started the search for a coalition government on Monday after Flemish separatists won a parliamentary election, causing some unease on financial markets over the country's long-term future and its growing debt.

Flemish separatists faced protracted negotiations on Monday with francophone Socialists despite their "historic" victory in Belgium's general election.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A Flemish party that wants to split Belgium triumphed in a parliamentary election on Sunday, a result that could make it hard to form a coalition quickly and deliver austerity to contain a rising national debt.

Separatist party emerges as biggest winner in Belgian general election. A separatist party that advocates independence for the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium, leaving the country's Francophones to fend for themselves, scored an unprecedented win in Sunday's general election.

Flemish separatists scored an unprecedented victory in Belgium's general election on Sunday and demanded a re-drawn federal state in negotiations to form a government.

Flemish separatists scored an unprecedented victory in Sunday's general election and immediately called for sweeping change across Belgium as negotiations to form a government begin.