Sex scandal hits French PM aide

Mr Ambiel's job was to ensure good media coverage for the PM

A top aide to French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has resigned after a court charged him with soliciting sex from an under-age prostitute.

Mr Raffarin's communications adviser, Dominique Ambiel, was arrested on Monday night near an infamous Paris park.

Denying the charge, Mr Ambiel said he was resigning "out of respect for the prime minister". He also faces charges of insulting the police.

Mr Raffarin's party suffered heavy losses in regional polls last month.

A statement from his office said Mr Ambiel's resignation had been accepted.

'Traffic-light fight'

Police say they stopped Mr Ambiel's car on Monday night near the Bois de Boulogne park, a notorious nocturnal haunt for male and female prostitutes.

I decided to bring forward my departure... in order to be able to express myself freely about any malicious allegations that could result from this incident Dominique Ambiel (to Le Monde newspaper)

A 17-year-old Romanian girl who was in the car told police Mr Ambiel had paid her for sex on several occasions, according to French newspaper Le Monde.

Mr Ambiel, however, says the girl was escaping from a quarrel with another prostitute and jumped into his car when it had stopped at traffic lights.

If found guilty of soliciting sex from a minor and insulting the police, Mr Ambiel will face a possible prison term of three years, as well as a fine of up to 45,000 euros (about $53,000).

French law describes anyone under the age of 18 as a minor.

Mr Ambiel was hired by Mr Raffarin to help ensure the government received favourable press coverage.

He formerly worked as a television producer and teacher.

Mr Raffarin's government is still recovering from a severe setback last month, when voters in regional elections overwhelmingly backed the opposition Socialist party.