Head of Nobel body steps down

STOCKHOLM, Apr 13 (Reuters): The head of the Swedish Academy stepped down on Thursday after criticism of how the institution, which picks the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, handled a probe into allegations of sexual misconduct by a man married to one of its members.

Shortly afterwards, the Academy announced that the man's wife had decided to quit her post on the board.

Three members of the Academy withdrew last week over the issue, but arcane rules that make appointments for life mean that members cannot technically resign, though they stop participating in activities.

"It was the wish of the Academy that I should leave my role as Permanent Secretary," Sara Danius, who has held the post since 2015, told reporters.

"I have made this decision with immediate effect."

The public row and defections from the Academy have raised concerns that the image of the Nobel Prizes and Sweden's reputation abroad could suffer.

"It has already affected the Nobel Prize quite severely and that is quite a big problem," Danius said.

The allegations of sexual assault and harassment were made against Jean-Claude Arnault, the husband of Academy member Katarina Frostenson who also stepped down on Thursday. In an emailed comment to the news agency, Arnault's lawyer, Bjorn Hurtig, said his client rejected all allegations against him.