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Colombia's foreign minister resigns

Spain's Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya and Colombia's Foreign Minister Claudia Blum sign the new cooperation strategy between the governments of Colombia and Spain, in Bogota

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's Foreign Minister Claudia Blum has resigned, according to a letter from her shared by the ministry of foreign affairs on Thursday.

"I am grateful for the enormous confidence you placed in me when you named me for this important role," Blum said in her letter to President Ivan Duque.

Blum's resignation follows that of former Finance Minister Alberto Carrasquilla, who resigned earlier this month after widespread protests against a now-cancelled tax reform.

Demonstrations began on April 28 in the Andean country fueled by outrage at the reform, which included a plan to raise sales taxes.

Protesters' demands now include a basic income and the withdrawal of a long-debated health reform that opponents say is too vague to correct inequalities.

(Reporting by Oliver Griffin)