French minister quits over financial crimes probe, dealing blow to embattled Hollande

PARIS – A French government minister has resigned after his name was cited in an inquiry into financial wrongdoing.

The French presidency says that Kader Arif, the minister for war veterans, tendered his resignation to President Francois Hollande Friday to "answer all the questions aimed at establishing the truth" in the preliminary inquiry led by the French prosecutor investigating financial crimes. It did not elaborate details of the inquiry.

Arif is the third minister in the embattled Socialist government to quit after being linked to an investigation of financial wrongdoing. It follows the departure of budget minister Jerome Cahuzac in March 2013 and trade minister Thomas Thevenoud two months ago.

It's a further blow to Hollande, France's least popular president since World War II.