Honduran foreign minister quits

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7170900.stm

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Honduran Foreign Minister Milton Jimenez has resigned and apologised after drink-driving and alleged involvement in an incident with police.

He was arrested and held on Sunday after he was caught drink-driving.

At a press conference, he accused the police of using excessive force against him, including punches.

In a statement, the security minister denied punches had been exchanged, and said Mr Jimenez was made to calm down after refusing to take an alcohol test.

A local television channel broadcast a video of the incident recorded on a mobile phone on Wednesday.

"I made the mistake of driving while drunk," Mr Jimenez, who displayed a black eye and bruises, told a news conference on Thursday as he announced his resignation.

Mr Jimenez, who was a close aide of President Manuel Zelaya, is the latest of a number of cabinet members to resign since President Zelaya took office in January 2006.