Second Colombia minister resigns

President Uribe has lost a second minister in less than a week

Colombia's defence minister has resigned, only three days after the interior minister stepped down.

Marta Lucia Ramirez was the country's first female defence minister, and no reason has been given for her sudden decision to quit.

She had been in office since President Alvaro Uribe came to power in August 2002.

Since she took over, security had improved with murders and kidnappings sharply reduced.

President Uribe has appointed a businessman, Jorge Alberto Uribe, to succeed her.

The new minister is president of the insurance giant Seguros de Lima, and is not related to the president.

'Relief'

On Thursday Fernando Londono, who held the justice as well as the interior portfolio, announced his decision to resign.

Relations between the minister and the president had been tense, with Mr Londono saying that Mr Uribe should resign himself if his political reforms failed to make progress.

Economist Sabas Pretelt has been named as his replacement.

Many deputies 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 the Associated Press news agency.

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.