Leaders of four centre-right parties in Slovakia have agreed to form a new government following the general election last week.

The preliminary accord would see Christian Democrats, ethnic Hungarians, and liberals joining a coalition led by the outgoing prime minister, Mikulas Dzurinda.

Correspondents say the new government would differ little from the old, and ensure Western support for Slovakia to join Nato and the European Union.

A former nationalist populist Prime Minister, Vladimir Meciar, received the most votes in the election, but remains isolated and unable to form an alternative government.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service