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Rumsfeld replaced after poll loss Rumsfeld replaced after poll loss
(about 1 hour 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, after anger over the war in Iraq led to 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. President George W Bush said that he and Mr Rumsfeld had agreed that a "fresh perspective" was needed in Iraq.
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. "It's been quite a time," said Mr Rumsfeld in a short departing speech, delivered alongside President Bush, two hours after the president had announced that he would be replaced.
href="/1/hi/world/americas/6130302.stm" class="">Profile: Robert Gates href="/1/hi/world/americas/6129350.stm" class="">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 As a key architect of the war in Iraq, Mr Rumsfeld had faced growing calls to quit as violence has continued to spiral three years after the US-led invasion.
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. href="/1/hi/world/americas/6130302.stm" class="">Profile: Robert Gates href="/1/hi/world/americas/6129350.stm" class="">Bush diminished as leader href="/1/hi/world/americas/6130514.stm" class="">Departure shakes Bush "I have benefited greatly from criticism, and at no time have I suffered a lack thereof, " Mr Rumsfeld said, quoting Winston Churchill.
Earlier, Mr Bush had 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 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".
"America is safer and the world is more secure" as a result of Mr Rumsfeld's leadership, he said.
He said the outgoing defence secretary was a "known known", in reference to an infamous comment by Mr Rumsfeld about there being "known unknowns" and "unknown unknowns".
BeleagueredBeleaguered
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. Popular frustration over the war in Iraq has been a key factor during the election campaign, and correspondents say Mr Rumsfeld 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 href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4672&edition=1&ttl=20061108181829" class="">Send us your comments
HAVE YOUR SAY The Republicans needed a scapegoat, so Rummy was it John Lemr href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4672&edition=1&ttl=20061108181829" class="">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. Mr Bush announced that Mr Rumsfeld was standing down 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.
Asked if Mr Cheney would be with him for the rest of his term, Mr Bush said "yes he will". 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
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. But he said that with victory, there had to be responsibility, and that was why he would be working with Democrats on legislation.
Mr Bush said he was appointing Robert Gates, 63, to take over as defence secretary. The Democrats celebrated major gains in the House and Senate
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, 63, will need to be confirmed by the Senate as the new defence secretary.
He 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. Mr Gates said he believed the outcome of the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq would "shape our world for decades to come" and pledged to serve "with all my heart".
'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 there will be few tears shed by Iraqis for Donald Rumsfeld, who is identified as the architect of the brutal and dangerous conditions of daily life in the country.
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.