The Polish transport minister, Eugeniusz Morawski has resigned in protest over criticism by trade unions of his plans to reform the state railway system.

In submitting his resignation, Mr Morawski said he could not not reform the railways, which have been running at a loss, because of strong union opposition.

The finance minister, Leszek Balcerowicz, said the resignation showed that Poland's weakness was the excessive political role of the trade unions.