Madrid, Apr 15 (IANS): Spanish Industry Minister Jose Manuel Soria submitted his resignation on Friday over links with the so-called "Panama Papers".

He also resigned from parliament, EFE news reported.

The resignation is the latest in a series of scandals to rock the conservative Popular Party, and follows demands by both left and right-wing opposition parties for him to step down.

The Panama Papers are a collection of about 11.5 million confidential documents leaked from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, which specialises in financial management and helps its clients to avoid paying taxes in their home countries.

According to a group of international media outlets, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists leaked papers obtained through an anonymous source suggests that 140 politicians and officials from around the globe, including 72 former and current world leaders, have connections with secret 'offshore' companies to escape tax scrutiny in their countries.