INTERNATIONAL

French Finance Minister Resigns: Alain Madelin resigned over a potentially explosive dispute involving his push to strip government workers of expensive fringe benefits. President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Alain Juppe accepted the resignation, apparently relieved to avoid a standoff with thousands of public employees. “You can’t put together the conditions for solidarity by denouncing social rights,” Juppe said in a statement. “The fight against privileges shouldn’t be confused with a basic questioning of social rights.” Juppe immediately named Jean Arthuis, minister of planning and economic development, to succeed Madelin. Madelin, 49, earned the wrath of civil servants when he attacked social security laws that favor public employees over private ones.