Romanian Interior Minister Vasile Blaga has announced his resignation after last week's strike by thousands of police officers.

罗马内务部长瓦西里·布拉格因上周数以千计的警官举行罢工一事提出辞职。

Mr Blaga, who called the strike illegal, said he was resigning "as a gesture of honour".

At least 5,000 police marched on Friday to the presidential palace in Bucharest to protest a 25% pay cut.

Romania's government is facing strong opposition¹ to sweeping² austerity（紧缩，朴素） measures adopted in July.

Mr Blaga said the protesting police had broken their oath of office and dishonoured³（侮辱） the interior ministry⁴.

"This morning I have tendered（提供，偿还） my resignation, as a gesture of honour," Mr Blaga told reporters.

"I respect the policemen's right to demonstrate, but only in a legal framework."

The striking police had shouted slogans outside the presidential palace on Friday, while some threw their caps down in disgust.

President Traian Basescu and and Prime Minister Emil Boc both dismissed（开除，解散） their police security escorts（护卫） on Friday, saying the protest and strike had undermined（破坏） state authority.

Mr Boc has named Senator Traian Igas, from the governing Liberal Democrat⁵ Party, to replace Mr Blaga.

The nomination⁶ has been approved by President Basescu.

Mr Blaga's resignation comes as the president attempts to cut government spending. Measures already announced include a 25% pay cuts for all public sector⁷ workers and tax rises.

More protests are planned for this week against the cuts.

The government is attempting to reduce the budget deficit⁸ to a level agreed last year with the International Monetary⁹ Fund and the EU in exchange for a $26bn (£16.4bn) bail-out loan.

Mr Blaga's departure from the interior ministry leaves some doubt as to whether Romania will be able to complete the reforms needed for it to join the visa-free Schengen area as planned in March 2011.

Mr Blaga said this was the major challenge facing Romania after having joined the European Union in 2007.