Colombia's controversial defense minister, Jorge Alberto Uribe, has resigned, citing personal reasons.
Mr. Uribe's resignation was announced Friday. Officials say he will be replaced by President Alvaro Uribe's legal counsel, Camilo Ospina.
The defense minister, who is not related to the president, has faced complaints from Congress over his handling of the country's counterinsurgency war. He also has come under fire for visiting a woman jailed on drug trafficking charges.
Recently, the defense minister narrowly survived a no-confidence vote in Congress.
Defense Minister Uribe told reporters Friday he leaves with the satisfaction of knowing the armed forces are united behind the objective of achieving peace.
Mr. Uribe, a businessman without prior political experience, assumed the position of defense minister in November 2003.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP, Bloomberg and Reuters.