Portuguese premier says he can't handle party foes

Prime Minister Francisco Pinto Balsemao told his Social Democratic Party to choose a new head of government, saying it was impossible for him to rule Portugal against the opposition of his own party. Speaking to a key meeting of the party's national council, Mr. Balsemao said he was prepared to carry on as prime minister only if his hard-line opponents in the party were silenced. He also warned that Portugal's seven-year-old democracy could be at risk if there is no urgent solution to the political crisis threatening his center-ri ght government.