Head of Bush's Republican party to resign

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Friday November 10, 2006

Washington- The national leader of US President George W Bush's Republicans is stepping down in the wake of the party's resounding defeat in congressional elections. Ken Mehlman, chairman of the Republican National Committee and campaign manager for Bush's re-election in 2004, will leave his post by January, White House spokesman Tony Snow said Friday.

Mehlman has led the Republican national organization since January 2005. No replacement has been named.

"We do know that Ken Mehlman is not going to seek re-election when the Republican National Committee has its annual meeting in January," Snow told reporters in Washington.

In Tuesday's midterm elections, the opposition centre-left Democrats won control of both the US House of Representatives and the Senate for the first time in 12 years. Voters punished Bush and his party for the war in Iraq and scandals involving senior Republican politicians.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency