Slovak official quits, government tension may ease

...break up the three-party ruling coalition.

Fico had asked his junior government partner, the HZDS, to fire Branislav Briza, the deputy head of the country's land administration fund, on Tuesday after media reports he had signed a land deal in which the state may have lost tens of millions of dollars.

The HZDS, led by former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar, defied the request, prompting Fico, by far the most popular Slovak politician, to threaten to break up the coalition if the party did not change its stance.

"It was my personal decision to resign," Briza told journalists after meeting Meciar. "I refuse to be a tool in a political fight," he said, adding he had not broken any laws.

Fico had said he would lose confidence in Agriculture Minister Miroslav Jurena, a senior HZDS member, if he refused to dismiss Briza.

The most serious coalition row since Fico won a 2006 election erupted shortly before the leftist leader planned to intensify diplomatic efforts to win European Union support for Slovakia's euro zone entry in 2009. The third ruling party, the far-right Slovak National Party, said Briza's move was the end of the row.

"It was a storm in a teacup, it ended as quickly as it started," party leader Jan Slota said after meeting Meciar. (Reporting by Peter Laca) ($1=22.63 Slovak Crowns)

Keywords: SLOVAKIA GOVERNMENT/

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]