Finnish minister resigns in texting scandal

Finland's foreign minister has been sacked after newspapers and magazines published suggestive text messages he sent to an erotic dancer.

Ilkka Kanerva sent about 200 text messages to 29-year-old Johanna Tukiainen, 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.

This is not the first time Mr Kanerva has been in trouble over his mobile phone use. In 2005, when he was the deputy speaker of parliament, he bombarded two models with text messages.