Grow a beard

A Belgian actor has called on his fellow countrymen not to shave again until their country finally forms a government.

Benoit Poelvoorde, star of black comedy 'Man Bites Dog' and costume drama 'Coco Before Chanel', is so annoyed with the lack of progress being made in the search for a new ruling government he appeared on Belgian TV to make his appeal.

Sporting a neatly trimmed beard he said: "Don't be surprised by the stubble.

"We have decided to stop shaving for as long as Belgium has no government. Let's keep our beards until Belgium rises again."

The country has been under the control of a caretaker government since June, setting a post-war record for a period without government.