CAIRO, May 11 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's premier said he accepted the resignation of the justice minister on Monday, Egypt's state news agency MENA reported.  

Minister Mahfouz Saber's resignation comes after recent controversial statements he made during a television show, on private network TEN TV.

In response to a question by the show host on whether the children of garbage collectors can become judges, the minister said, judges should grow up in and come "from an appropriate" circle, "with respect to garbage collectors..." 

Saber added that "many things would happen" to the children of garbage collectors should they work in the judiciary, adding that they will end up depressed and will discontinue work.

Saber said after resigning that he did it out of respect for the Egyptian people, who demanded this. He added that he did not mean to humiliate anyone and that his comments have been misunderstood.  

Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb said Saber handed in his resignation this morning during a meeting, in which the minister expressed respect for "all sectors of society", professionals and hard-working people, MENA reported.    

Mehleb described Saber himself as the son of a "simple man," who has not completed his education but insisted that his children do, until one of them became a minister.

Mehleb added that the minister's statements were no "more than a slip" and that he resigned out of respect for public opinion.

Mehleb is currently in the French capital to look into cooperation between both states on a three-day trip.