Finland's First Woman PM Resigns over Political Scandal

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, June 19, 2003

Finland's First Woman PM Resigns over Political Scandal

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Finland's first woman prime minister, Anneli Jaatteenmaki, resigned on Wednesday amid accusations that she used leaked secret information on Iraq to help win parliamentary elections in March, local reports said.

Jaatteenmaki, whose Center Party won a narrow victory in the March 16 general election over the ruling Social Democrats, was accused of using confidential information on talks between her predecessor, Paavo Lipponen, and US President George W. Bush on Iraq to attack Lipponen, who was seeking a third term at that time, said the reports.

Earlier on Wednesday, Jaatteenmaki told the parliament that shehad not actively sought the secret documents. However, Martti Manninen, an aide to President Tarja Halonen, said Jaatteenmaki had approached him before parliamentary elections asking him for information on Iraq, according to the reports.

Prior to Jaatteenmaki's resignation, leaders of the Center Party and the Social Democrats held separate meetings to discuss the fate of the cabinet. It was not immediately clear how soon a new government would be formed.

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