Hagel resigns as Defence Secretary

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has resigned, the first major cabinet change after Obama's Democrats were routed in mid-term elections three weeks ago.
Obama was to announce Hagel's resignation at a White House event at 11:10 a.m. on Monday.
Hagel, who had struggled to improve his ties with Congress after a contentious 2013 confirmation hearing, submitted his resignation letter after lengthy discussions with Obama that began in October, officials said.
"A successor will be named in short order, but Secretary Hagel will remain as Defense Secretary until his replacement is confirmed by the United States Senate," a senior Obama administration official said.
Hagel had raised questions about Obama's strategy toward Syria in a two-page internal policy memo he wrote that leaked. In it, he warned that Obama's policy was in jeopardy due to its failure to clarify its intentions toward Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Obama has insisted that the United States can go after Islamic State militants without addressing Assad, who the United States would like to leave power, according to a news agency.