US agriculture secretary to quit

Mr Johanns is expected to return to Nebraska, where he was governor

US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns is resigning from the cabinet, President George W Bush has confirmed.

Mr Johanns is reportedly resigning in order to run for a US Senate seat for Nebraska, where he used to be governor.

He is the latest in a series of high-level figures to depart from Mr Bush's team.

In August, Mr Bush lost two key members of his inner circle - his senior advisor, Karl Rove, and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Mr Bush said that he wanted to wish Mr Johanns a "warm farewell" and said he thought he would "make an outstanding member of the United States Senate".

Several state officials said Mr Johanns was expected to run for the Senate seat to be vacated by Republican Senator Chuck Hagel at the end of 2008.

Mr Bush announced that Deputy Agriculture Secretary Charles Connor will step up to serve as acting agriculture secretary.