ROME, January 16, SPA -- Italy's justice minister said Wednesday he was resigning following a corruption probe involving his wife, putting further strain on Premier Romano Prodi's shaky government, the Associated Press reported. However, the resignation by Clemente Mastella, head of asmall centrist party, was not expected to bring down the20-month-old center-left government. Mastella told lawmakers he was «throwing in the towel,»addressing parliament hours after Italian reports said hiswife had been ordered under house arrest. «I am resigning to be more free, from a political andpersonal point of view,» Mastella said. «I am resigningbecause between the love of my family and that of power, Ichoose the former.» Italian news reports said his wife, Sandra LonardoMastella, a top official for the southern Campania region,was ordered to remain under house arrest during a probeinto alleged corruption in the health care system in thecity of Caserta, near Naples. Lonardo Mastella denies any wrongdoing and said she hadnot received any formal notification of a house arrestorder, according to the ANSA news agency. Her husband called it a «violent and unfair attack» anddescribed the move as yet another attempt to discredit himfor his efforts at reforming the judiciary.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/518198