16 Nov 2013

Resignation of French Polynesia transport minister accepted

8:41 am on 16 November 2013

French Polynesia's president has accepted the resignation of the transport minister, Bruno Marty, who last week crashed his car while driving under the influence of alcohol.

Mr Marty, who was in charge of road safety, resigned at the weekend after being taken to hospital, but the President, Gaston Flosse, initially rejected his move.

In a statement, the president says before accepting the resignation, he waited for certain information to be confirmed.

The statement doesn't elaborate.

A local newspaper says Mr Marty had two drink drive convictions in 2010 and a third one last February.

The paper says the last conviction meant he lost his license, but the ruling wasn't executed.

It says the licence was taken off him only this week.