Prime Minister Miller faces the task of finding new allies

Poland's ruling coalition has split apart in a bitter row only three months before the country votes on joining the European Union.

Prime Minister Leszek Miller has ejected the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) from his centre-left alliance and demanded the resignation of the party's two government ministers.

Although the government will not automatically fall, Mr Miller's Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and its other ally, the Labour Union (UP), must replace the PSL's 42 deputies to keep a parliamentary majority.

The row erupted after the PSL voted in parliament against a government measure to levy a tax to improve the country's roads.

"In refusing their support for the government program, the PSL has excluded itself from the government coalition," Mr Miller said in a televised address to the nation.

"One can't be in the government and the opposition at the same time," he added.

"I won't be held hostage by anyone."

Referendum looming

One of the main aims of Mr Miller's government, which took office in October 2001, has been to prepare the former communist nation for EU membership.

Poland is the largest of 10 mainly eastern European states invited to join the wealthy 15-nation EU in May 2004, and is due in June to hold a referendum on whether to enter.

A majority of Poles back EU entry

Opinion polls consistently show nearly two-thirds of Poles are likely to support joining the EU, but there has been concern that turnout may fall below the 50% of registered voters needed for it to be valid.

In his address, Mr Miller did not spell out his political plans but appeared confident of continuing in government, although his two-party alliance now holds just 216 seats in the 460-seat parliament.

"The SLD-UP coalition remains. We will seek support for our programme for development and European integration among the parliament and the people," he said.