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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Rumsfeld replaced after poll loss | Rumsfeld replaced after poll loss |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is standing down, President George W Bush has announced after bruising losses for Republicans in mid-term elections. | US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is standing down, President George W Bush has announced after bruising losses for Republicans in mid-term elections. |
| Mr Bush said that both he and Mr Rumsfeld had agreed the time was right for new leadership at the Pentagon. | Mr Bush said that both he and Mr Rumsfeld had agreed the time was right for new leadership at the Pentagon. |
| Former CIA Director Robert Gates has been nominated to replace Mr Rumsfeld. | Former CIA Director Robert Gates has been nominated to replace Mr Rumsfeld. |
| The Democrats won control of the House of Representatives in the polls, and the Senate balance of power hangs on a tight race in just one state, Virginia. | The Democrats won control of the House of Representatives in the polls, and the Senate balance of power hangs on a tight race in just one state, Virginia. |
| Mr Bush said that his administration's Iraq policy was "not working well enough, fast enough", and that Mr Rumsfeld agreed that a "fresh perspective" was needed on the issue. | Mr Bush said that his administration's Iraq policy was "not working well enough, fast enough", and that Mr Rumsfeld agreed that a "fresh perspective" was needed on the issue. |
| Profile: Robert Gates Bush diminished as leader href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6130482.stm" class="">Departure shakes administration The US president described as "thumping" the Republicans' set-back in the elections, in which the Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years | |
| But he said that with victory, there had to be responsibility, and that was why he would be working with his Democratic opponents to get legislation passed. | But he said that with victory, there had to be responsibility, and that was why he would be working with his Democratic opponents to get legislation passed. |
| Mr Bush described Mr Rumsfeld as a "patriot who served this country with honour and distinction", as well as "a trusted adviser and a friend". | Mr Bush described Mr Rumsfeld as a "patriot who served this country with honour and distinction", as well as "a trusted adviser and a friend". |
| Beleaguered | Beleaguered |
| With popular anger over the war in Iraq a major factor during the election campaign, there had been growing calls for Mr Rumsfeld, the longest serving defence secretary in American history, to quit. | With popular anger over the war in Iraq a major factor during the election campaign, there had been growing calls for Mr Rumsfeld, the longest serving defence secretary in American history, to quit. |
| Correspondents say he was a key architect of the war in Iraq and had been looking increasingly beleaguered because of its apparent failures. | Correspondents say he was a key architect of the war in Iraq and had been looking increasingly beleaguered because of its apparent failures. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The Republicans needed a scapegoat, so Rummy was it John Lemr Send us your comments Neither Mr Rumsfeld or Vice-President Dick Cheney were present at the news conference where Mr Bush spoke, which correspondents said was unusual at such events. | HAVE YOUR SAY The Republicans needed a scapegoat, so Rummy was it John Lemr Send us your comments Neither Mr Rumsfeld or Vice-President Dick Cheney were present at the news conference where Mr Bush spoke, which correspondents said was unusual at such events. |
| Asked if Mr Cheney would be with him for the rest of his term, Mr Bush said "yes he will". | Asked if Mr Cheney would be with him for the rest of his term, Mr Bush said "yes he will". |
| Mr Bush spoke minutes after the news came that the Democrats had won the Senate race in Montana, one of the two seats needed to wrest control of the upper chamber of Congress from the Republicans. | Mr Bush spoke minutes after the news came that the Democrats had won the Senate race in Montana, one of the two seats needed to wrest control of the upper chamber of Congress from the Republicans. |
| Mr Bush said he was appointing Robert Gates, 63, to take over as defence secretary. | Mr Bush said he was appointing Robert Gates, 63, to take over as defence secretary. |
| Mr Gates served as CIA director for just over a year in the early 1990s, during the presidency of Mr Bush's father, former President George Bush. | Mr Gates served as CIA director for just over a year in the early 1990s, during the presidency of Mr Bush's father, former President George Bush. |
| He is a member of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which is tasked with recommending ways of tackling the problems the US faces in Iraq. | He is a member of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which is tasked with recommending ways of tackling the problems the US faces in Iraq. |
| Correspondents say Mr Gates is widely respected by both Democrats and Republicans, which will help gain Senate confirmation even if the Republicans lose their majority. | Correspondents say Mr Gates is widely respected by both Democrats and Republicans, which will help gain Senate confirmation even if the Republicans lose their majority. |
| 'Common ground' | 'Common ground' |
| The BBC's John Simpson in Baghdad says the news of Mr Rumsfeld's resignation will be met with delight on the streets of the Iraqi capital. | The BBC's John Simpson in Baghdad says the news of Mr Rumsfeld's resignation will be met with delight on the streets of the Iraqi capital. |
| Resentment has grown against the US-led troop presence there as violence has spiralled. | Resentment has grown against the US-led troop presence there as violence has spiralled. |
| Despite a bitter, fiercely fought election campaign, Mr Bush said he was looking forward to working with Democrats. | Despite a bitter, fiercely fought election campaign, Mr Bush said he was looking forward to working with Democrats. |
| "If you hold grudges in this line of work, you never get anything done," he said. | "If you hold grudges in this line of work, you never get anything done," he said. |
| He said he would seek to find "common ground" with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who is set to become the first female speaker in the lower chamber. | He said he would seek to find "common ground" with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who is set to become the first female speaker in the lower chamber. |
| Earlier she pledged that the Democrats would work with "civility" and "partnership, not partisanship" in their newly empowered position. | Earlier she pledged that the Democrats would work with "civility" and "partnership, not partisanship" in their newly empowered position. |