United States: President George W Bush has unexpectedly announced the resignation of CIA director Porter Goss, leaving a reform of the beleaguered agency unfinished amid enduring questions about its role in providing faulty intelligence before the Iraq war.
Mr Bush praised the outgoing director's transitional role and said a successor to be announced as early as next week would continue to make changes at the agency. "As a result, this country will be more secure. We've got to win the war on terror, and the Central Intelligence Agency is a vital part of the war. So I thank you for your service," the president said.
A former congressman from Florida, head of the House Intelligence Committee and ex-CIA officer, Mr Goss had been in his post for less than two years. His tenure was marked by the departure of numerous senior CIA officers, notably in the clandestine service with which Mr Goss had poor relations.
The deputy director of intelligence, the chief of the clandestine service, two deputy chiefs of the clandestine service, the chief of the directorate of intelligence, the director of the counterterrorism centre and the comptroller all resigned during his brief period as CIA director.
Mr Goss's authority was diminished by an intelligence overhaul that placed John Negroponte in charge of all 16 intelligence agencies and made Mr Negroponte responsible for the president's morning intelligence briefings.
Yesterday's resignation is the latest move in a White House shake-up that began last month with the appointment of Joshua Bolten as chief of staff, and has seen Fox News commentator Tony Snow replace Scott McClellan as press secretary.
An AP-Ipsos poll yesterday gave Mr Bush an approval rating of just 33 per cent, the lowest of his presidency, with 73 per cent of Americans saying the country is on the wrong track. Of particular concern to Republicans facing into November's congressional elections is that a growing number of conservatives are turning against the president.
Six out of 10 conservatives say the country is on the wrong track and nearly 30 per cent of Republicans disapprove of the way Mr Bush is doing his job. During the past 60 years, only Richard Nixon has polled a lower rating six months before a midterm election.