Jan 23 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Geir Haarde, under pressure from growing unrest following Iceland's banking sector collapse last year, said on Friday he would resign and seek an early election in May.
Following are penpix of Iceland's top politicians:
* Geir Haarde, 57, outgoing Prime Minister and leader of the eurosceptic Independence Party. Blamed by thousands of anti-government protesters for failing to prevent or take responsibility for a collapse in Iceland's three top banks last October, which spiralled the economy into a deep recession.
For months he vowed to stay on to oversee the economy despite mounting protests, but changed his mind this week after being diagnosed with a malignant tumour.
He has signalled a will to open his centre-right party to the possibility of launching talks on European Union membership, which has become popular in Iceland after the crisis hit. But his EU ambitions may be too much for the Independence Party's core supporters -- the staunchly anti-EU fishing industry.
Haarde has said he is prepared to stay as prime minister until the election he wants to be held in May although he will step down as party leader in March.
* Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, 43, a straight-talking Education Minister and deputy chief of the Independence Party, where she is one of the group's main pro-EU voices.
She had regularly taken over as caretaker prime minister when Haarde was on holiday and seen as a leading candidate to replace him. Husband's past as an executive at the collapsed Kaupthing Bank and his investment deals may limit her appeal.
* Ingibjorg Gisladottir, 54, Foreign Minister and leader of the pro-EU Social Democratic Alliance, the junior party in government. Diagnosed with a brain tumour, she has spent much time in Sweden for treatment in past months but has rejected calls to step down.
The former three-term major of Reykjavik is a strong leader who effectively holds her centre-left alliance together. Without her, the alliance may collapse -- with some supporters switching to the increasingly popular Left-Green Party.
* Steingrimur Sigfusson, 53, leader of the Left-Green opposition party, currently leading in opinion polls. He has said he is prepared to become prime minister if his party wins. Traditionally the party for the far-left, it is opposed to NATO and the EU. The party's criticism of laissez faire capitalism and the crisis has helped it gain mainstream appeal. The Left-Green's junior movement was initially seen as the driving force behind anti-government protests.
* David Oddsson, 60, Iceland's central bank chairman and veteran Independence Party politician, who was Iceland's longest serving prime minister between 1991 and 2004. Along with Haarde, seen as the main culprit of the country's economic meltdown. Protesters and some politicians seek to oust him from the bank. (Reporting by Wojciech Moskwa, Kim Mclaughlin and Omar R Valdimarsson, editing by Richard Williams)