US agriculture secretary quits

US President George Bush today announced that agriculture secretary Mike Johanns is leaving the Cabinet to return to Nebraska, where he is expected to run for the US Senate.

Johanns' departure is the latest in a series of officials leaving their jobs in the Cabinet and the White House as the Bush administration heads into its final 15 months in office.

Bush said Johanns "brought focus and energy to the department" but would be "possibly serving the nation in a different capacity".

Bush said deputy agriculture secretary Charles Conner would serve as acting agriculture secretary.