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Rumsfeld replaced after poll loss Rumsfeld replaced after poll loss
(about 2 hours later)
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. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is ton stand down, after anger over the war in Iraq led to bruising losses for Republicans in mid-term elections.
President George W Bush said that he and Mr Rumsfeld had agreed that a "fresh perspective" was needed in Iraq.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.
"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."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.
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. 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.
Profile: Robert Gates 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. Profile: Robert Gates Bush diminished as leader href="/1/hi/world/americas/6130752.stm" class="">Bush won't look back href="/1/hi/world/americas/6130740.stm" class="">Text of president's speech
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. "I have benefited greatly from criticism, and at no time have I suffered a lack thereof, " Mr Rumsfeld said, quoting Winston Churchill.
He described the Iraq conflict as a "little understood, unfamiliar war" and said he was confident of ultimate success there.
But BBC News website world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says his resignation is a sign and an admission that the US policy in Iraq has not worked, so far.
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."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". However, Democrats welcomed Mr Rumsfeld's resignation.
"Secretary Rumsfeld's war plans in Iraq have failed. The country is on a dangerous course, and the administration has finally recognised the need for drastic, immediate change," said Senator John Rockefeller, senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
BeleagueredBeleaguered
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. After the 9/11 attacks on America, Mr Rumsfeld led the planning and execution of the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and the military operation in Iraq two years after that.
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 As we know, there are known knowns, there are things we know we know - we also know there are known unknowns ... href="/1/hi/world/americas/6130316.stm" class="">Donald Rumsfeld in quotes
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. Popular frustration over the war in Iraq has been a key factor during the current election campaign, and correspondents say Mr Rumsfeld had been looking increasingly beleaguered because of its apparent failures.
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 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 remaining 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. The US president described as "thumping" the Republicans' setback in the elections, in which the Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years.
The Democrats celebrated major gains in the House and SenateThe Democrats celebrated major gains in the House and Senate
Mr Gates, 63, will need to be confirmed by the Senate as the new defence secretary. Mr Gates, 63, will need to be confirmed by the Senate as the new defence secretary. Mr Rumsfeld will continue in his post until then.
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. Mr Gates served as CIA director for just over a year in the early 1990s, during the presidency of Mr Bush's father.
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.
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".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 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. The BBC's John Simpson in Baghdad says there will be few tears shed by Iraqis for Mr 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. 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
He was subjected to unprecedented criticism following revelations of abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US troops at Abu Ghraib jail, and he twice offered to resign over the issue.
Resentment has grown further against the US presence in Iraq 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.