Europe news: Dutch PM leaves economic summit after father dies

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – The Netherlands' prime minister has left the economic summit in Washington following the death of his father, his office said Saturday. Spokeswoman Annemarie Kars confirmed that Jan Peter Balkenende was told shortly after arriving in the United States late Friday that his 79-year-old father had died. He took the next flight home. U.S. President George W. Bush telephoned Balkenende to offer his condolences. The Dutch delegation, which received a late invitation to this weekend's meeting, will be led by the junior finance minister, Jan Kees de Jager.