CAIRO, Aug. 25 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's Minister of Supplies Khaled Hanafi officially announced his resignation on Thursday, amidst probes into domestic wheat corruption.  

"The experience has proven that accepting any position is no longer an asset or a picnic, especially as some of the issues raised were personal ones," Hanafi said in a press conference after submitting his resignation to the cabinet.    

Hanafi has been under the spotlight after a corruption case involving domestic supplies of wheat was discovered in the ministry. The amount of corruption taking place during the last season of wheat supply was estimated to measure up to approximately one billion pounds.

Last Monday, Hanafi stated that the option of his resignation from the ministry "was not whatsoever on the table."

A fact-finding committee formed by Parliament to investigate the reports of corruption in domestic supplies of wheat had demanded that ministerial officials be held responsible and informed Egypt's Attorney General of the corruption reports.

The committee recommended that procedures be taken against officials at the supplies ministry, and especially against the minister, who is considered politically responsible for the corruption cases.

Public prosecution had ordered the arrest of those suspected of manipulating domestic supplies of wheat. It also ordered that the suspects be banned from travel, and have their assets frozen.