CEO of Brazil oil giant Petrobras resigns

RIO DE JANEIRO, June 1 (Xinhua) -- CEO of Brazil's state-controlled oil and gas giant Petrobras Pedro Parente announced his resignation Friday.

Parente's resignation follows a strike of Petrobras' workers which started Wednesday with a main goal to seek his removal. The vacancy will be temporarily filled by the company's CFO Ivan de Souza Monteiro, until a new CEO is appointed.

Parente had been at the helm of the oil giant for two years. During his administration, the government approved a change in the country's fuel pricing process, which has led to more frequent raises of fuel prices. The price of diesel fuels, for example, rose over 50 percent in the past year alone.

Truck drivers nationwide went on a 10-day strike late last month over the high prices, and the government has agreed to lower diesel fuel prices significantly. Enditem