Mr Ilkka Kanerva

In a volte-face, Jyrki Katainen, the Finnish finance minister and leader of the National Coalition party, was quoted as saying by online party organ Verkkouutiset Tuesday that Ilkka Kanerva (cons) could no longer continue in the post of foreign minister.

The announcement came after an issue of Hymy, a celebrity magazine, containing the contents of a number of suggestive text messages sent by Mr Kanerva to an erotic dancer hit the newsstands.

At the weekend, after tabloid Ilta-Sanomat printed a more limited sample of the texts, Mr Katainen and Matti Vanhanen (centre), the prime minister, had said that Mr Kanerva continued to enjoy their full confidence.

But Mr Katainen said Tuesday that he had made the hardest decision of his career as party leader.

"I have arrived at the conclusion that Kanerva no longer enjoys the sort of confidence and general respect that would make possible his staying in the post of minister," Mr Katainen told Verkkouutiset.

"In the light of these new developments it is evident that his ability to act as foreign minister has weakened considerably."

The foreign ministry said in a statement Tuesday that Mr Kanerva had taken sick leave and would not be attending the Nato summit in Bucharest on Wednesday and Thursday.

The statement added that the minister would not be available for interviews and that the National Coalition party's management and parliamentary faction would discuss "the foreign minister issue" in meetings over the course of Tuesday morning.

Mr Vanhanen, the prime minister, said Tuesday he had discussed the matter with Mr Katainen and President Tarja Halonen, adding the trio had agreed on a course of action.

Mr Vanhanen said in the United States that he would return to the matter after the National Coalition party meetings.

Mr Kanerva had said Monday that he would not resign over the text message row.