Madrid - A Cabinet Minister's surprise resignation over a funding scandal has dealt a blow to the campaign of the Prime Minister, Mr Jose-Maria Aznar, just weeks before the general election, Spanish newspapers said. The Labour Minister, Mr Manuel Pimentel, resigned on Saturday assuming responsibility for a scandal involving one of his leading lieutenants.
Newspapers reported Mr Aznar had not been informed in advance of Mr Pimental's decision to step down because of a frosty relationship between them since the minister's earlier decision to retire from politics after the vote.
