Italian minister resigns over devolution row

Italy's Reforms Minister Roberto Calderoli, a leading member of the Northern League party, said yesterday he had handed in his resignation because of delays in approving a major shake-up of the Constitution.

The Northern League is pushing hard to give more executive power to the regions as part of a comprehensive reform of Italy's system of government, but it has faced stiff resistance from within Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's coalition.

Mr Calderoli said in a statement he had handed in his resignation because some government allies had failed to meet their commitments on the reform package and were seeking to sink the law as it makes its way through Parliament.