Polish minister resigns over privatisation

The Polish treasury minister, Andrzej Chronowski, has resigned, in a dispute over privatisation.

Mr Chronowski said he was going because an opposition MP was occupying a room in his ministry as a protest over plans to sell sugar plants to foreign investors, and this was making it impossible for him to work.

But the prime minister, Jerzy Busek, said he accepted the resignation to help defuse controversy over the policies of the treasury ministry, which has been criticised for trying to gain control over partially privatised firms.

Correspondents say privatisation plays a key role in Polish government income. Mr Chronowski is being replaced by his deputy, Aldona Kamela-Sowinska.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service