Cyprus Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou said he resigned yesterday after a public outcry over the botched response to suspected serial killings of seven foreign women and girls. Nicolaou said he tendered his resignation to President Nicos Anastasiades for reasons of “principle and conscience”, while adding he had no personal involvement in the case that went undetected for nearly three years.

A suspect identified in Cypriot media as 35-year-old Greek Cypriot army officer Nicos Metaxas has confessed to the seven murders that have been dubbed the Mediterranean island’s first serial killings.

“I told the president of my decision to resign from my position as justice minister for reasons of political responsibility,” Nicolaou told reporters as he announced his resignation.