Condit battles resignation calls

Gary Condit hopes his constituents will listen

US Congressman Gary Condit has hit back at two local newspapers demanding his resignation over the disappearance of a 24-year-old woman.

In his first statement since reportedly acknowledging an affair with the missing Chandra Levy, Mr Condit said editorials in the Modesto Bee and the Fresno Bee in his California constituency, were disappointing and unfair.

Both papers said Mr Condit, who refused to confirm his relationship with Miss Levy until a third police interview, had irrevocably damaged his constituents' confidence by trying to put his political interests ahead of attempts to find the missing woman.

Condit can restore some of his honour and dignity. He can set aside his own ambitions now and do what is in the public interest: resign

Modesto Bee

Shaken by the calls for him to step down, Mr Condit is reportedly planning to return to his district later this month to counter the hostile coverage.

Inquiry continues

Miss Levy, who lived in Mr Condit's Modesto constituency, has not been seen since 30 April when she went to cancel her membership at a health club near her Washington DC apartment.

The congressman has denied any involvement with Miss Levy's disappearance and police have repeatedly said he is not a suspect.

But police assurances have failed to appease the two newspapers who charge that whatever his role, Mr Condit's refusal to speak publicly in detail about his involvement was making it increasingly difficult to give the congressman the benefit of the doubt.

The Bees are not alone

"We have seen more than three months of delay, denial and duplicity - conduct that has brought disrepute on Condit himself and the district he represents," wrote the Modesto Bee.

"Condit can restore some of his honour and dignity. He can set aside his own ambitions and do what is in the public interest: resign".

Mr Condit retorted that the newspapers did not appreciate that he wanted to spend time with his wife and children "before I sat down for a public interview".

"It is terribly unfair and disappointing that the Bee would have come to any decision about me without first allowing the investigation to continue and hearing what I have to say," he said.

He added that he hoped to address his constituents "very soon" and that they would hold off their judgements until they had heard his side of the story.