9 November 2012 Last updated at 15:31 ET

CIA director Petraeus stands down over affair

David Petraeus retired from 37 years in the military to become CIA director

CIA director David Petraeus has resigned from his post because of an extramarital affair.

In a statement, Mr Petraeus said he had submitted his resignation to President Barack Obama, and that he had shown "extremely poor judgment".

He said: "Such behaviour is unacceptable... as the leader of an organisation such as ours".

Mr Petraeus became CIA boss in 2011 after heading international forces in Iraq, then in Afghanistan.

He was the highest-profile military officer of the post-9/11 years, winning plaudits for his role running the "surge" in Iraq and implementing a counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan.

"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extra-marital affair," Mr Petraeus said in a statement.

"Such behaviour is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organisation such as ours. This afternoon, the president graciously accepted my resignation."

In a statement, Mr Obama said Mr Petraeus had "provided extraordinary service to the United States for decades", citing both his time as CIA director and service to the military.

"By any measure, through his lifetime of service David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger."

"Going forward, my thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Holly Petraeus, who has done so much to help military families through her own work."

CIA deputy director Michael Morell will serve as acting director of the agency, the White House confirmed.

Source : bbc[dot]co[dot]uk