Dutch ministers resign in fallout over fatal airport jail fire

TWO Dutch ministers resigned yesterday after accepting blame for safety lapses in a fire that killed 11 illegal immigrants awaiting deportation in an airport jail last year.

Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner and Housing Minister Sybilla Dekker told parliament they had submitted their resignations to Queen Beatrix.

Ms Dekker acknowledged the casualty toll in the October 27 fire was worsened by the haste with which the airport facility was built, at a time when the public was worried about rising crime.