President George Bush's controversial ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, a vocal supporter of the Iraq war and of the administration's assertive foreign policy, is to leave his post, writes Denis Stauntonin Washington
The move comes as a high-level bipartisan group prepares to publish recommendations tomorrow for a change of US policy in Iraq, expected to include a gradual withdrawal of US forces and direct talks with Iran and Syria.
Mr Bolton was unable to win enough support in the Senate to confirm him in the post he has occupied on a temporary basis for the past year. Mr Bush yesterday blamed "a minority of senators" for blocking the nomination, adding that he accepted Mr Bolton's resignation reluctantly.
"They chose to obstruct his confirmation, even though he enjoys majority support in the Senate, and even though their tactics will disrupt our diplomatic work at a sensitive and important time. This stubborn obstructionism ill serves our country, and discourages men and women of talent from serving their nation," Mr Bush said.
Mr Bolton's resignation, which follows the departure of defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld last month, further reduces the influence of neo-conservatives within the administration at a crucial moment for US policy towards Iraq.
The Iraq Study Group, chaired by former secretary of state James Baker and former congressman Lee Hamilton, is expected to stop short of calling for a timetable for withdrawing US troops. Leaks from the group suggest, however, that tomorrow's report will recommend a shift in the US military role away from combat operations to training and support of Iraqi forces and a possible redeployment to bases inside and outside Iraq.
The report is also expected to propose a regional conference on Iraq's future with neighbouring countries, including Iran and Syria.
White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley said this week that Mr Bush is willing to consider a range of options, including some that have been rejected in the past.
"He has indicated that he is open to and wants to look at a full range of options for changing what we do and how we do it," Mr Hadley said.
Among the options under consideration are ideas outlined by Mr Rumsfeld in a memo he wrote on November 6th, two days before his resignation. In the memo, which the New York Times published on Sunday, Mr Rumsfeld called for "a major adjustment" of US policy.
Mr Rumsfeld's ideas include several ideas for troop redeployments or withdrawals and reducing the number of US bases in Iraq.