Brazil’s minister of cities steps down

— Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has accepted the resignation of her minister of cities, who faces allegations of irregularities while in office.

Mario Negromonte is the eighth member of Rousseff’s Cabinet to step down.

The office of the presidency said in a brief statement that Negromonte tended his resignation on Thursday and that Rousseff wished him luck with his new projects.

Negromonte is accused of awarding public work contracts to companies that financed his Progressive Party, which is part of the ruling coalition.

The Ministry of Cities coordinates urban development policies in a country where more than 80 percent of the population live in cities.