中国气候变化信息网 China Climate Change Info-Net

Danish minister Connie Hedegaard has resigned as president of the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen. The reason for her resignation is unclear but she will be replaced the prime minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard (L) meets with former U.S. President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York September 21, 2009.

The climate change talks have yet to reach an agreement and remain deadlocked over emission cuts and financial aid for poorer countries.

Before she stepped down she told delegates that they must make the COP15 a success saying that they have to choose between "Fame or shame" and between "Action or stalemate".

Hedegaard, a conservative politician, was appointed climate minister in 2004. She was first elected to Denmark's parliament in 1984 and was at the time the country's youngest MP.

Earlier in the day protesters attempted to enter the summit venue. Danish police fired tear gas on several hundred demonstrators trying to force their way into the buildings and at least 100 were arrested according to reports. Many environmental activists are angry over the lack of progress on a new climate deal.