British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has resigned, opening the door for Britain's first Conservative-led government in 13 years.
Queen Elizabeth Tuesday appointed Conservative Party leader David Cameron as the new prime minister and asked him to form a new government.
Mr. Cameron later told an audience outside government headquarters at 10 Downing Street that he accepted the queen's request. He paid tribute to what he called Mr. Brown's "long record of public service," but said the country faces "deep and pressing problems."
The White House says U.S. President Barack Obama telephoned his congratulations to the new prime minister.
Mr. Brown's resignation culminates a week of political turmoil in Britain after no party won a majority in parliamentary elections, leaving them unable to form a new government without some sort of coalition.
Mr. Brown stood outside 10 Downing Street Tuesday, saying he truly loved his job and always tried to serve in the best interest of British values and its people. But after his Labor Party lost the election, he said his constitutional duty commands him to make sure a strong and stable government can be formed.
He then headed to Buckingham Palace to hand over his resignation to the queen. Mr. Brown also will step down from his seat in parliament.
The 43-year-old David Cameron will be Britain's youngest prime minister in 200 years.
His Conservatives won the most seats in last week's election, followed by Labor and the Liberal Democrats. Mr. Cameron will have to form a new government with the backing of the Liberal Democrats in order to get his political agenda through parliament.
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