WASHINGTON: CIA Director David Petraeus resigned Friday because of an extramarital affair, bringing an end to a brilliant career that included pivotal roles as a military commander in US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair," Petraeus said in a message to CIA staff.
"Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours."
Michael Morell, Petraeus's deputy at the US spy agency, will serve as acting director. President Barack Obama expressed his "utmost confidence" in Morell's leadership at the CIA.
Petraeus, 60, took over the helm of the Central Intelligence Agency just over a year ago in September 2011 after retiring as a four star US Army general, easily the most celebrated military leader of his generation.
He was credited by some with rescuing a failing US war in Afghanistan in 2007, after then president George W. Bush ordered a surge of US forces into the country.
Obama later turned to him to lead a similar surge in US forces in Afghanistan in 2010, leaving a top post as commander of all US forces in the Middle East to do so.
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