White House homeland security adviser quits

US President George W Bush8217;s White House adviser on counterterrorism and homeland security has resigned, he announced on Monday, the latest in an exodus of top aides with 14 months left of his presidency.

Bush said in a statement that Fran Townsend 8220;has always provided wise counsel on how to best protect the American people from the threat of terrorism.8221;

8220;She has been a steady leader in the effort to prevent and disrupt attacks and to better respond to natural disasters,8221; he said. He gave no reason for her departure. Townsend, who served 4-1/2 years in a post created after the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001, had also been a prosecutor in New York and deputy national security adviser.