French President Jacques Chirac accepted Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin's resignation and named Dominique de Villepin as a replacement on Tuesday, two days after French voters said "No" to the European Union (EU) constitution in a referendum.

"Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin presented this morning the demission of his government to head of state, who has accepted," said Chirac's office.

Raffarin resigned after French rejected the EU constitution at the Sunday referendum with 54.87 percent of "no" vote against 45.13 percent of "yes" vote.

Villepin was on Tuesday named France's new prime minister to succeed Raffarin, officials said, adding that the power transfer will take place later in the day at 4:00 PM (15:00 GMT).

De Villepin, 51, former foreign minister and current interior minister, is charged with forming a new government and giving new impetus to government policy which Chirac promised after voters rejected the EU constitution.

The new prime minister did not immediately name the new government, with the lineup of the new team expected on Wednesday.

President Chirac was due to address the nation later on Tuesday on policies of the new government, which will govern France until presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007.

Public opinion had asked Chirac to reshuffle the government and change Raffarin after French regional elections in March 2004. Chirac reshuffled the government but kept Raffarin.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2005)