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Bucharest (AFP)

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Monday finally dismissed top anti-graft prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi after long resisting attempts to remove her by the left-wing government.

The government had claimed a victory in May after the Constitutional Court ordered the president to sack the popular Kovesi, head of Romania's Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (DNA).

But the president had delayed, leading prominent figures in the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) to raise the prospect of his impeachment.

"In a state governed by the rule of law decisions of the Constitutional Court must be respected (...) Romania's president signed today the decree" to sack Kovesi, Iohannis' office said in a statement.

An emotional Kovesi confirmed in a televised statement that she would no longer be working for the DNA but said she would remain a prosecutor.

"I have a message for the Romanian people: corruption can be defeated. Don't give up!", Kovesi added, flanked by dozens of prosecutors.

"The current political direction is not leaning towards an efficient justice system, but rather is aiming at blocking it," she added.

She took aim at the government's controversial legal reforms, which critics say will hobble the powers of the judiciary.

"The brutal way in which they [the government] are trying to force through the justice reforms shows they want protection for the past, the present and the future," she said.

- 'Harming Romania's image' -

The prospect of Kovesi's removal had attracted vehement criticism from the opposition and concern from the international community.

Kovesi, a 44-year-old former basketball player, had held the high-profile post since 2013 and was considered a symbol of the fight against graft in one of the EU's most corruption-plagued members.

She was re-appointed by Iohannis for another three-year term in 2016.

But in February the government launched a process to oust her, with Justice Minister Tudorel Toader accusing her of "violating the constitution" and "harming Romania's image" abroad.

Iohannis, who is from the centre-right and has frequently clashed with the government, had initially said he was "not convinced" by arguments to remove Kovesi.

The European Commission and the Council of Europe had also criticised the push to sack Kovesi.

The DNA had stepped up the campaign against corruption among local and national elected officials in recent years, earning accusations of abuse of power and the enmity of many in Romania's political class.

In her statement, Kovesi said: "The decision to sack me raises an important question: will chief prosecutors be subordinate to the minister of justice?"

In February, she noted that despite "unprecedented attacks" by the government, in 2017 the DNA had brought 1,000 people to trial, including three ministers, five MPs and a senator.

Over the winter, thousands of protestors took to the streets in support of Kovesi and to oppose her sacking.

© 2018 AFP