German education minister, Merkel ally, quits over plagiarism

The move came four days after the University of Duesseldorf ruled Annette Schavan had "systematically and intentionally" copied parts of her thesis and withdrew her Ph.D more than 30 years after it was granted.

"I will not accept the decision (by the university) and will take legal action against it," Schavan told reporters. "When a, (education) minister sues a university, then that comes with strains, for my office, for the ministry, the government and for the Christian Democrats. I want to avoid just that."