US AG Gonzales quits

US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is resigning, officials said yesterday, as President George W. Bush's confidant fell victim to a political storm deepened by Democratic demands for a perjury probe.
Gonzales, at the center of fierce rows over legal tactics in the 'war on terror' and a showdown over the firing of federal prosecutors, was the latest top Bush ally to leave, 17 months before the president exits the White House.
A senior White House official confirmed the resignation of the top US law enforcement officer, who had even lost confidence of senior Republicans.
Gonzales was due to hold a press conference at 10:30 am, (1430 GMT), Justice Department officials said.
Bush was to make his own statement from Texas, where he is on working vacation around 11:50 am (1550 GMT), the White House said.
After months defying demands by Democrats and even some of Bush's Republican allies in Congress for his resignation, Gonzales told Bush he would quit in a telephone call on Friday, another senior White House official said.