Hello and welcome to NewsHour live from the BBC World Service in London.

I'm Rebecca Kesb.

Our top story today, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation as leader of the governing Liberal Party and therefore as Prime Minister.

He will remain in post until a new Liberal leader is selected from the party.

But with a general election due sometime before October the 20th,

has he left it too late for his successor to have any chance of winning that?

Mr Trudeau has been in office for nearly a decade,

but has come under increasing

pressure to go, not just from opposition parties but from within his own. Last month, his finance

minister quit over policy differences and more than 20 other party members have publicly

urged him to step down. Speaking outside his official residence in Ottawa a few hours ago,

Mr Trudeau announced the temporary suspension of Parliament

and he said he was putting the needs of the country first.

My friends, as you all know, I'm a fighter.

Every bone in my body has always told me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians.

I care deeply about this country.

And I will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians.

But he went on to say it was time to make way for a new leader.

I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister,

after the party selects its next leader

through a robust, nationwide, competitive process.

Last night I asked the president of the Liberal Party

...