Ecuador VP resigns amid kickbacks turmoil

Ecuador's vice-president has resigned over allegations by a former aide she took kickbacks which serving as a lawmaker five years ago.

Maria Alejandra Vicuna announced her resignation Tuesday on Twitter, saying the South American country did not deserve the "instability" caused by the crisis.

It came a day after President Lenin Moreno distanced himself, suspending her from the post to allow her time to fight the allegations.

In Ecuador, the vice-president can only be sacked through an impeachment process in the national assembly, which last week called on her to resign.

Vicuna has been in the post for just over a year. She replaced Moreno's running mate, Jorge Glas, convicted and jailed over his involvement in the massive Odebrecht bribes scandal.

The allegations against Vicuna come from a former aide, Angel Sagbay, who said last week that while working as Vicuna's advisor in 2012 and 2013 he regularly banked deposits -- totalling around $20,000 -- in Vicuna's account that he claims were kickbacks.

Prosecutors are investigating the corruption allegations and Vicuna said she was confident she will be cleared by the courts.