Romanian PM charged in corruption probe

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta has been charged as part of a corruption probe, piling more pressure on him to resign.

Ponta was charged on Monday with fraud, tax evasion and money laundering dating back to 2007-2011, before he became prime minister, the DNA anti-corruption agency said.

Some of his property has been seized pending the outcome of the case.

The announcement came shortly after the 42-year-old hobbled on crutches through a crowd of reporters into the DNA headquarters.

Sources said he refused to answer questions.

The investigation has sparked calls for Ponta to resign.

But after returning to work on Thursday following a month-long stay in Turkey for a knee operation, he said on Sunday he was stepping down as head of the Social Democrat party while he fought the corruption allegations but said he would stay on as premier.

Prosecutors also suspect a conflict of interest during his time as premier. But that probe was stymied when parliament, where Ponta's party has a comfortable majority, refused last month to lift his immunity from prosecution.

The centre-left prime minister's legal troubles prompted a fresh crisis in the European Union's second poorest nation, where President Klaus Iohannis and the opposition have called on him to step down.

Ponta has strongly denied the allegations and has promised to co-operate fully.

The money laundering and tax evasion allegations relate to his activities as a lawyer.