Irish prime minister resigns over cash-payment scandal
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern has announced his plans to resign because of his deepening troubles over a cash-payments scandal.
Ahern told a surprise press conference on Wednesday outside his government office that he will step down May 6. He has been Ireland's leader for 11 years, but his hold on power has been steadily weakening since investigators discovered cash payments he secretly received from businessmen in the 1990s. The investigation has uncovered more than €100,000 (US$150,000) in undocumented cash deposits to Ahern, who is due to resume testimony next month.