Spanish transport minister resigns days after deadly train crash

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, where he was giving evidence on the circumstances of last Wednesday's crash near the town of Urda, south of the capital Madrid. The latest tragedy in Urda happened when a state-operated Renfe high-speed train smashed into the back of another stationary train operated by the Iryo company. 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.