Ecuador's Finance Minister, Carlos Julio Emanuel, has resigned over allegations that senior ministry officials were involved in a bribery scandal.

A government spokesman said Francisco Arosemena Robles, a leading presidential aide, would be sworn in as his replacement later today on Monday.

The spokesman added that the President of Ecuador, Gustavo Noboa, expected the Finance Ministry to be restructured.

Last week, four officials at the ministry were sacked after a local mayor said he'd been asked to pay bribes before being given access to government funds.

On Friday, Mr Emanuel had promised to investigate any corruption charges.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service