Madrid - Spanish Justice Minister Mariano Fernandez Bermejo announced Monday that he is to step down.

Bermejo had come under increasing criticism by the conservative opposition over going on a hunting expedition with a judge who is investigating a corruption scandal among the conservatives.

It also turned out that Bermejo faced a fine of up to 4,000 euros (6,700 dollars) for not having a licence to hunt in the southern Andalusia region, where the expedition occurred.

Bermejo had also been accused of intransigeance by judges complaining over a lack of resources which prompted their first ever strike last week.

Bermejo said he could not tolerate the "use" the opposition was making of the hunting trip, and that it was best for Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's socialist government if he resigned. (dpa)