Vietnam's leadership resigns

Vietnam's prime minister, president and assembly chief all resigned in an expected change of leadership, Assembly sources said on Saturday.

The Assembly approved the resignations of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, President Tran Duc Luong and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An.


Vietnam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai addresses the National Assembly in Hanoi on June 16, 2006. AFP file photo via Yahoo News.

Khai's first deputy Nguyen Tan Dung, 56, is expected to take over as the new premier.

Vietnam leads Southeast Asia in economic growth with an 8.4 percent rise in 2005, and is moving toward membership in the World Trade Organization.