Key Colombian minister resigns

Londono has found himself embroiled in controversy before

Colombia's interior and justice minister has quit after controversial remarks threatening early elections.

Fernando Londono had said President Alvaro Uribe could quit and call new elections unless key reforms were pushed through Congress.

His comments angered legislators, although he said his remarks had been taken out of context.

Analysts say Mr Londono's abrasive style was hampering Mr Uribe's efforts to obtain support for his reforms.

'Relief'

Mr Londono announced his decision to resign as he prepared to give a speech at a seminar on terrorism he was attending on Thursday.

"This act, loaded with so much emotion for me and which has great significance for me, is the last one I will attend as minister of justice and interior," he was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying, before driving to the presidential palace to resign.

Many lawmakers voiced their relief at Mr Londono's resignation.

"The minister was hampering discussion and approval of key government bills," Claudia Blum, a pro-Uribe congresswoman, told Reuters news agency.

"The minister stuck his foot in it too many times," Antonio Navarro, a leading opposition senator, told AP.

Mr Londono has found himself embroiled in controversy before, most notably in June this year when he alleged lawmakers had been smoking drugs when they passed an electoral reform law.