The top two officials in the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's clandestine service have resigned.
New CIA Director Porter Goss announced the resignations late Monday, but says there will be "no gap" in operations fighting the war on terrorism.
Agency sources say the two officials, Deputy Director for Operations Stephen Kappes and his deputy Michael Sulick, decided to quit after clashing with aides to Mr. Goss. The resignations came three days after the deputy director of the CIA, John McLaughlin, announced his retirement.
Mr. Goss is a former intelligence officer and congressman who was appointed in part to reform the CIA. He took the position in September, amid criticism of pre-war intelligence on Iraq and the 2001 terrorist attacks.
A top Democratic Representative, Jane Harman, said she is "disturbed" by some of the changes made by Mr. Goss.
But Republican Representative Peter Hoekstra defended the new CIA chief, saying the changes would move the agency forward.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AFP.
