Washington - Major US military publications are calling for the resignation of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld days before the country's mid-term elections.
Editorials in the latest editions of the Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times and Marine Corps Times to be published say Rumsfeld has 'lost the support and respect of the military leadership,' the senior managing editor of Army Times Publications, which publishes the four titles said.
Robert Hodierne said the timing of the editorials had nothing to do with congressional elections to be held Tuesday.
Rather the demand for Rumsfeld to step down was a reaction to remarks by President George W Bush, who said Wednesday that the defence secretary would remain in office until the end of his presidency in 2008.
'Our aim is simply to say, for the good of the service, for the good of the country, it's time for this guy to go,' said Hodierne.
The four weeklies have a combined circulation of 250,000 and are distributed in shops in the US as well as to US military bases worldwide.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
