TUNIS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian interim Minister of Finance Fadhel Abdelkafi announced his resignation as he prepares for a court case next month over alleged illegal financial transactions.
"I have to defend myself as a citizen, not as a minister, in order to avoid any involvement of the current government in such an embarrassment," said Abdelkafi, who also acts as minister of development, investment and international cooperation, during a speech on private radio Mosaique FM.
In a brief statement afterwards, Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said he accepted Abdelkafi's resignation.
The move comes before Abdelkafi's Sept. 4 court hearing for his involvement in a financial case investigated by Tunisian Customs.
Abdelkafi on Aug. 10 lodged an appeal against the first verdict after he was handed a suspended prison sentence and a fine of about 1.8 million dinars (about 750,000 U.S. dollars).
