However, the statement said that "given the current scale of organisational change, Dr Flanagan feels that the appropriate time to take this step is now".

BBC: Northern Health Trust boss Sean Donaghy to step aside

In a statement, Rio Tinto chairman Jan du Plessis said the scale of the write-down was "unacceptable".

BBC: Rio Tinto boss Tom Albanese resigns over $14bn write-down

"We have received some queries regarding pay but not on the scale claimed by the GMB, " it said in a statement.

BBC: Brighton hospital staff still getting wrong pay

Kerry clarified a statement he made Saturday in Beijing, when he told reporters the U.S. could scale back its missile-defense posture in the region if North Korea goes nuclear-free.

NPR: As US Talks Up Diplomacy, NKorea Takes Hard Line

"This is causing growing protest in Macedonian society, signs of which were large-scale demonstrations in front of the country's parliament, " Yakovenko said in the statement.

CNN: EU: Trajkovski in control

In an earlier emergency statement to the Commons, Mr Blunkett had conceded that the speed with which the intruders were able to scale the wall was "of concern".

BBC: NEWS | UK | Palace protesters freed on bail

"By combining our resources, expertise and reach with SharesPost's established technology, we will bring scale, efficiency and transparency to this marketplace, " Nasdaq Executive Vice President Bruce Aust said in a statement.

WSJ: Nasdaq, SharesPost team up on private stock market