Finnish Foreign Minister sacked

Finland's foreign minister was sacked yesterday after newspapers and magazines published suggestive text messages he sent to an erotic dancer, his party said.

Ilkka Kanerva sent about 200 text messages to Johanna Tukiainen, 29-year-old leader of the Scandinavian Dolls erotic dance troupe. At first he said they were related to her performing at his 60th birthday party.

He later admitted the messages were not totally appropriate, but insisted until Monday he had done nothing wrong and was ready to continue in office, but his conservative National Coalition Party said he could not continue in his job.

The conservatives said they had picked Alexander Stubb, a member of the European Parliament, as the new Foreign Minister.

A government spokesman said Mr Stubb would be confirmed in the job by Finland's President on Friday.

"This has been the toughest decision as the leader of the party. Ilkka is my friend and he has done his job as Foreign Minister brilliantly," party head Jyrki Katainen said, adding that Mr Kanerva had acted thoughtlessly in his private life.