This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6233623.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US nuclear chief forced to quit US nuclear chief forced to quit
(30 minutes later)
The head of the US nuclear weapons agency, Linton Brooks, has been made to resign following a number of security breaches at Los Alamos Laboratory. US nuclear weapons agency chief Linton Brooks has been made to resign following a number of security breaches at Los Alamos Laboratory.
US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said new leadership at the National Nuclear Security Administration was needed.US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said new leadership at the National Nuclear Security Administration was needed.
"These management and security issues can have serious implications for the security of the US," Mr Bodman added."These management and security issues can have serious implications for the security of the US," Mr Bodman added.
The NNSA is in charge of maintaining the country's nuclear weapons stockpile and reducing the threat posed by WMDs.The NNSA is in charge of maintaining the country's nuclear weapons stockpile and reducing the threat posed by WMDs.
The agency was created in 2000 after an espionage scandal at Los Alamos, site of US nuclear weapons research.The agency was created in 2000 after an espionage scandal at Los Alamos, site of US nuclear weapons research.
Mr Brooks became head of the agency in 2003 - two security lapses are known to have happened during his leadership.Mr Brooks became head of the agency in 2003 - two security lapses are known to have happened during his leadership.
In June last year, it emerged that a security breach which led to the theft of files containing information on more than 1,000 workers, had gone unreported for months.In June last year, it emerged that a security breach which led to the theft of files containing information on more than 1,000 workers, had gone unreported for months.
Four months later, classified documents were found during a drugs raid on the home of a former Los Alamos employee.Four months later, classified documents were found during a drugs raid on the home of a former Los Alamos employee.
Mr Brooks said in a statement he accepted the decision to remove him although "it was not a decision that I would have preferred".Mr Brooks said in a statement he accepted the decision to remove him although "it was not a decision that I would have preferred".
"Our task is now to minimise the inevitable disruption of such a transition and to continue the vital national security work on which we are engaged," his statement added."Our task is now to minimise the inevitable disruption of such a transition and to continue the vital national security work on which we are engaged," his statement added.
Mr Brooks is expected to leave the agency by the end of the month.Mr Brooks is expected to leave the agency by the end of the month.