// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
Spanish transport minister resigns days after deadly train crash
Óscar Puente had been under mounting pressure as opposition parties and some allies of the government called on him to step down
Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente has resigned - six days after the high-speed train collision in which at least 69 people were killed and dozens injured.
He announced his decision in Congress, after giving evidence on last Wednesday's disaster near the town of Urda, south of the capital Madrid, in which a train smashed into the back of another which had stopped on the same line.
"A transport minister in a country like Spain cannot remain in office after two accidents of this seriousness in less than a year," he said - a reference to January's crash on the same line in which 46 people were killed.
Last week's crash was one of the worst rail disasters in Europe's modern history, and Spain's worst crash since 2013.
Rescuers had to use heavy lifting equipment to get access to derailed carriages where a number of passengers were trapped
Puente announced his decision at the end of a congressional session on Tuesday evening in which he had outlined new rail safety measures and been grilled by the opposition.
He said he had taken the decision to resign immediately after the 28 October disaster, but had not made it public.
Puente had been under mounting pressure in the wake of the disaster as opposition parties and some allies of the government called on him to step down.
His resignation comes as a blow to the Socialist-led government ahead of a general election set for 29 November.