LONDON: British energy minister Chris Huhne resigned on Friday after being told he will face criminal charges over allegations he dodged a speeding penalty, but he vowed to prove his innocence.

Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer announced that Huhne and his ex-wife, Vicky Pryce, will be charged with perverting the course of justice over the alleged incident in 2003. They will appear in court on Feb 16.

Less than an hour later the Liberal Democrat lawmaker, who played a key role in UN climate change talks in South Africa in December, said he was resigning as secretary of state for energy and climate change to fight the case.

“The Crown Prosecution Service’s decision today is deeply regrettable,” Huhne told reporters outside his London flat.

“I’m innocent of these charges and I intend to fight this in the courts, and I’m confident a jury will agree.

“So as to avoid any distraction to either my official duties or my trial defence, I am standing down.” Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron said he was sorry to see Huhne leave the coalition government, in which the Lib Dems are the junior partners, but said it was the “right decision”.—AFP