Veteran Republican to stand down

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Influential Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2008.

Mr Warner, 80, has represented Virginia in the Senate since 1978 and has been an authoritative voice on the Iraq war.

Last week he broke ranks with his party by urging the withdrawal of some 5,000 US troops from Iraq by the year's end.

His decision to retire when his term ends could give the Democrats a chance to capture his seat and boost their razor-thin majority in the Senate.

In the 2006 elections, Democrat Jim Webb took Virginia's other Senate seat from Republican George Allen.

'True statesman'

As former chairman and current top-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mr Warner has been an outspoken player in the debate on the Iraq war.

Urging a limited troop withdrawal last week, he said the US needed to show that its commitment to Iraq was not open-ended and should not be taken for granted by Iraq's leaders.

Announcing his intention to retire in January 2009, Mr Warner thanked the people of Virginia for their many years of support.

"Public service is a privilege and I urge all to try to find some time in their lifetime to serve the needs of others," he said.

"I have tried to be not only true to myself, but true to the people of this great commonwealth I've served for 29 years now."

Virginia's Democratic Governor Tim Kaine described Mr Warner as "a good friend, a great Virginian and a true statesman".

A former Navy secretary, Mr Warner was at one time married to actress Elizabeth Taylor.