Belgium's Prime Minister Yves Leterme addresses a news conference in Brussels
Belgium's Prime Minister Yves Leterme addresses a news conference in Brussels October 3, 2008. The Dutch government has agreed to take over the banking and insurance activities of troubled financial services group Fortis in the Netherlands, Belgium said on Friday. The transaction, which amounts to a break-up of the cross-border Fortis group along national lines, is worth 16.8 billion euros ($23.28 billion) and includes Fortis' interest in ABN AMRO, the Dutch bank it bought in a consortium with Royal Bank of Scotland and Banco Santander last year. REUTERS/Thierry Roge (BELGIUM)