Athens - Greek government spokesman Theodoros Rousopoulos resigned on Thursday over a real-estate scandal that has linked the conservative government with a monastery in northern Greece.

Rousopoulos reportedly handed in his resignation to Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and the prime minister accepted it, thanking him for his support to the party over the past eight years.

Stuttgart - German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck rejected Thursday a protest from Switzerland, two days after he said in Paris that the Alpine republic was not doing enough to stop tax evaders.

Speaking in Stuttgart, Steinbrueck, who oversaw Germany's rescue package last week for ailing banks, said, "I'll keep naming names." He said he would continue to be outspoken whenever "Germans are invited to evade taxes."

He criticized Berne for summoning the German ambassador to hear a protest over his Tuesday remarks.

Prague - A senior Czech government official Thursday criticized French President Nicolas Sarkozy's reported efforts to boost the eurozone's influence in 2009 at the expense of countries presiding over the larger European Union.

Sarkozy is seeking to stay in control of European economic policy for at least a year, arguing that he is the only leader suitable for the task of steering Europe through the global financial crisis, the Le Monde newspaper reported Wednesday.

Paris  - French shares were down in late Thursday trading in the wake of overnight losses on Wall Street and Asian markets.

By mid-afternoon, the Paris Bourse's CAC 40 index had given up 1.49 per cent, falling to 3,240.07, with losers outpacing gainers by about 5 to 1.

President Nicolas Sarkozy's announcement, earlier Thursday, that the government would establish a fund to support struggling strategic companies appeared to have had little effect on share prices.

Transportation shares were hardest-hit, with transport equipment manufacturer Alstom losing 10.05 per cent, to 34.72 euros.