Norway's defense minister has resigned following reports of a secret affair with a minor girl.
According to the French news agency AFP, Defense Minister Odd Roger Anaxin had a long affair with a girl much younger than him.
"I have accepted the resignation of the Minister of Defense and this is a necessary decision," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahir Storey told a news conference.
"They made a lot of bad decisions and they apologize for what they did that made life difficult for others," said Odd Roger Anaxon, referring to their romance.
The defense minister's love affair with an 18-year-old high school student began in 2005 when Anaxin himself was 50 years old.
The Norwegian newspaper VG reported that the student was on a school trip to the Norwegian Parliament when she met with Anaxen, a member of the Center Party.
According to the newspaper, after the school trip, a very serious romantic relationship developed between the student and Anaxin.
The woman is now over 30 years old. "She was very impressed with Anaxin because of her interest in politics and the politician took advantage of her power," she told the newspaper.
Anaxon, on the other hand, denies the allegations, saying "in a romantic relationship he was not in a position to influence a woman."
According to the woman, she met Anaxin 12 times in her office between 2006 and 2007 when she was energy minister.
According to Anaxin, he was not sexually active as long as he was in government, but the woman has denied the allegations.
The Norwegian prime minister told reporters that Anaxin had not disclosed his romance before taking office.
