LONDON, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The head of Britain's secret service will leave office next year but the government rejected any link to the uproar over intelligence on Iraq.
According to a British foreign office spokesman, the 58-year-old Sir Richard Dearlove would retire as head of the M16 in August 2004. The spokesman strongly denied Dearlove was leaving early because of differences with ministers over Iraq, CNN reported.
"Sir Richard continues to enjoy the "fullest possible confidence of the prime minister, the foreign secretary and the rest of the government on Iraq and all other intelligence issues," the spokesman said.
A report in The Observer newspaper in London had suggested that Britain's top spymaster has decided to retire early because he is dismayed by "the visible rift between his organization and Downing Street" on intelligence on Iraq.
According to the spokesman, when Dearlove leaves he would have held the post for the normal term of five years.
