World IN BRIEF : GREECE : Papandreou Resigns as Prime Minister

Andreas Papandreou resigned as Greece’s prime minister after nearly two months in the hospital, opening the way for his Panhellenic Socialist Movement to elect a new prime minister. Papandreou, 76, entered the hospital to be treated for pneumonia. Since then, he has been on and off life support. Under the constitution, the ruling party’s 168-strong parliamentary group will have three days to elect a successor. The top contenders for his post are two economists, Defense Minister Yerasimos Arsenis and former Industry Minister Costas Simitis. Papandreou was first prime minister in 1981-1989. Despite his failing health, he led it back to power in 1993.