Verhofstadt stripped the transport minister of her responsibilities

Two Belgian ministers have walked out of the government after a row with the prime minister - just two weeks before national elections.

Transport Minister Isabelle Durant and Energy Minister Olivier Deleuze quit saying they could not support a compromise deal on night flights over Brussels.

Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt stripped Ms Durant, who is also one of six deputy prime ministers, of her transport portfolio following the spat.

The decision by the two ministers - members of the French-speaking Green Party - has highlighted divisions in the coalition government ahead of 18 May elections.

You cannot work when you have an arm or leg chopped off Former Transport Minister Isabelle Durant

Mr Verhofstadt defended his handling of the dispute, and his decision to transfer responsibilities for aviation from Ms Durant to Employment Minister Laurette Onkelinx.

"My aim in relation to this issue has been to make sure that government decisions are respected," he said.

"We live in a state governed by the rule of law. Authority is exercised by the government and by the cabinet and with the prime minister."

'Losing support'

Ms Durant, on the government's ecological wing, said having her aviation responsibility removed was like having "an arm or leg chopped off".

Isabelle Durant walked out of government

The six-party coalition government is made up of Verhofstadt's pro-business Liberal party, Socialists and Greens from both Francophone and Flemish communities.

Recent polls have shown the Greens losing support ahead of the elections, according to Reuters news agency.

A spokeswoman for Durant said it was too early to say if the French-speaking Greens would be willing to take part in a future coalition government.

When asked if the Flemish Greens would quit the government over the dispute, she told Reuters: "I don't think so".

In a report from Belgium's RTBF radio, Ms Durant was said to have quit after she failed to get a 24-hour consultation period to consider new proposals for air flights over Brussels.