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| 2003/08/03 |
British spy chief to quit
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09:10:19 �.�
London, Aug 3 - The head of Britain's foreign intelligence service is to stand down next year, the foreign office said Saturday, but denied reports that he was leaving due to differences with the government over Iraq.
A foreign office spokesman said that Sir Richard Dearlove, 58, would be retiring in August, 2004 after five years in the post, the normal term for the head of the Intelligence Service known as MI6.
"Sir Richard Dearlove continues to enjoy the fullest possible confidence of the prime minister, the foreign secretary and the rest of the government on Iraq and all other intelligence issues," the spokesman said.
"This is in no way connected to events relating to Iraq," the spokesman added.
The Observer weekly reported that Dearlove was thought to be dismayed at a rift between his organisation and Prime Minister Tony Blair's office.
His retirement was likely to worsen a crisis of confidence in MI6 over Downing Street's alleged manipulation of intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, the paper said.
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