United States defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld has resigned after popular anger over the Iraq war gave Democrats a sweeping victory in congressional elections. Democrats have won control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years and are poised to win a majority in the Senate pending a recount in Virginia, Denis Staunton in Washington.
President George Bush announced Mr Rumsfeld's resignation at a White House press conference yesterday, praising the defence secretary's record but stating that it was time for a fresh perspective at the Pentagon.
"I had been talking with Don Rumsfeld over a period of time about fresh perspective. He likes to call it fresh eyes.
"He, himself, understands that Iraq is not working well enough, fast enough," Mr Bush said.
The president nominated Bob Gates, who was CIA director during Mr Bush's father's presidency, as the new defence secretary.
Earlier, the president congratulated California congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who is set to become the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives in US history.
Ms Pelosi promised close scrutiny of the Bush administration and a new ethical standard in Congress, which has been plagued by scandals in recent years.
"Democrats intend to lead the most honest, the most open and the most ethical Congress in history," she said.
As votes were still being counted in some districts yesterday, Democrats were on course to pick up almost 30 new seats in the House of Representatives, comfortably more than the 15 gains they needed for a majority.
In the Senate, Democrats made gains in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Rhode Island, Missouri and Montana and Democrat challenger Jim Webb was about 8,000 votes ahead in Virginia. Republican incumbent George Allen is likely to call for a recount, but most analysts predict that Mr Webb will win the seat, giving Democrats a majority in the Senate.
Democrats also made big gains in 36 states which chose a governor on Tuesday and 28 of the US's 50 governors are now Democrats.
The Republicans suffered their heaviest congressional losses in the north-east, but Democrats also made gains in the midwest, the west and the south.
Ms Pelosi promised to work with Mr Bush and congressional Republicans and the president said he was ready to co-operate with Democrats during his remaining two years in office.
"The message yesterday was clear: the American people want their leaders in Washington to set aside partisan differences, conduct ourselves in an ethical manner, and work together to address the challenges facing our nation," he said.
Democrats said the election sent a clear message to Washington that there must be a change of course in Iraq and Mr Bush acknowledged that voters were unhappy with the situation there.
He said he would meet next week with members of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan committee that is studying US policy options in Iraq.
"The election has changed many things in Washington, but it has not changed my fundamental responsibility, and that is to protect the American people from attack," Mr Bush said.
At a tearful ceremony in the Oval Office, Mr Rumsfeld said that serving as defence secretary for the past six years had been the greatest honour of his life.
"It's been quite a time.
"It recalls to mind the statement by Winston Churchill, something to the effect that 'I have benefited greatly from criticism, and at no time have I suffered a lack thereof'," he said.
Ms Pelosi welcomed the change in leadership at the Pentagon and Democrats promised to work closely with the new defence secretary if he is confirmed.
"I think it will give a fresh start to finding a solution to Iraq rather than staying the course," Ms Pelosi said.
Mr Bush said less than a week ago that he wanted Mr Rumsfeld to stay in his job for another two years but the president acknowledged yesterday that he was already considering his replacement last week.
The two men agreed on Tuesday that Mr Rumsfeld, who has been a lightning rod for criticism of the Iraq war, should go.