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CIA director Petraeus stands down over affair CIA director David Petraeus resigns over affair
(35 minutes later)
CIA director David Petraeus has resigned from his post because of an extramarital affair.CIA director David Petraeus has resigned from his post because of an extramarital affair.
In a statement, Mr Petraeus said he had submitted his resignation to President Barack Obama, and that he had shown "extremely poor judgment".In a statement, Mr Petraeus said he had submitted his resignation to President Barack Obama, and that he had shown "extremely poor judgment".
He said: "Such behavior is unacceptable... as the leader of an organization such as ours". He described his behaviour as "unacceptable" for the leader of the nation's main intelligence agency.
Mr Petraeus became CIA boss last year after serving as the commander of international forces in Afghanistan. Mr Petraeus became CIA boss in 2011 after heading international forces in Iraq, then in Afghanistan.
"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair," said the statement by Mr Petraeus. He was the highest-profile military officer of the post-9/11 years, winning plaudits for his role running the "surge" in Iraq and implementing a counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan.
"Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours. This afternoon, the President graciously accepted my resignation." 'Great patriot'
A statement from Mr Obama is expected shortly. Mr Petraeus' resignation came just three days after President Barack Obama's re-election, and prompted a flurry of statements from the White House, intelligence community and Mr Petraeus himself.
CIA deputy director Michael Morell will serve as acting director of the agency. Announcing his decision to stand down, the former general was full of contrition.
"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extra-marital affair," Mr Petraeus said in a statement.
"Such behaviour is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organisation such as ours. This afternoon, the president graciously accepted my resignation."
Mr Obama's statement said Mr Petraeus had "provided extraordinary service to the United States for decades", citing both his time as CIA director and service to the military.
"By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger."
"Going forward, my thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Holly Petraeus, who has done so much to help military families through her own work."
CIA deputy director Michael Morell will serve as acting director of the agency, the White House confirmed.
James Clapper, director of national intelligence, thanked Mr Petraeus for his decades of service: "Dave's decision to step down represents the loss of one of our nation's most respected public servants,"
"I have spent more than five decades serving our country-in uniform and out-and of all the exceptional men and women I have worked with over the years, I can honestly say that Dave Petraeus stands out as one of our nation's great patriots."