Romanian PM Mihai Tudose resigns

Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose has resigned after his party withdrew its support amid a power struggle with the group's chairman, who himself, is barred from political office because of a vote-rigging conviction.

According to the local media reports, the ruling left-wing Social Democratic Party (PSD) withdrew its support for Tudose after a meeting lasting more than five hours.

Tudose said he was quitting "with my head high" just over six months after he took office.

PSD officials confirmed that country's development minister Paul Stanescu would serve as the interim prime minister.

Tudose is the second prime minister ousted by the Social Democrats since they won Romania's December 2016 general election.

Earlier in June last year, Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu was ousted following power struggles within his party and over the country's failed anti-corruption fight.