SIR Menzies Campbell has resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats, senior party figures Simon Hughes and Vince Cable announced tonight.

In a statement given at 18.30 GMT, party president Simon Hughes said: “For the last two years he has given huge purpose and stability to our party.

“He has led the professionalisation of the party and laid the very successful preparations for the General Election whenever it comes. Throughout his political life he has taken all of his decisions and this decision is one of them.”

Mr Hughes announced that deputy leader Vince Cable would take over the leadership temporarily.

Mr Cable said: “Sir Menzies Campbell deserves the gratitude and respect of our party.

“He has had a long political career and he has fought for justice and liberal values and we will ensure that we build on that political legacy.”

Sir Menzies’ position in the top job had become increasingly precarious following poor ratings in the opinion polls and weak public performances.

Full analysis in tomorrow’s edition of The Scotsman.

SIR Menzies Campbell has resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats with immediate effect.

Deputy leader Vincent Cable will take over as acting leader until arrangements are made for an election for a longterm successor.

Lib Dems party president Simon Hughes said Edinburgh-based Sir Menzies had taken the decision in the “interests of the party and of Liberal Democracy”.

The announcement follows poor poll results for Sir Ming and the party. It is likely to fuel speculation about the possible return of former party leader Charles Kennedy, who quit the top post in January last year.

Mr Hughes issued a statement on Monday night, saying: Ming Campbell has this evening submitted his resignation as the Leader of the Liberal Democrats with immediate effect.

“Over the past two years, Ming has given stability and purpose to our Party. He has hugely professionalised the working of our Party and led its very successful preparations for the next general election.

“Ming has made this decision as all his political decisions in the interest of his Party and Liberal Democracy throughout Britain. Every Liberal Democrat owes Ming a huge debt of gratitude.

“Vince Cable, our deputy leader will take over as party leader until a new leader is elected according to our rules.

“The detailed election timetable will be announced tomorrow.”

Mr Cable said: “During his time as Leader, Ming has earned the respect, affection and gratitude of the party.

“This was reflected in the warmth with which his speech was received by the party conference three weeks ago.

“The key message of that speech was that the Liberal Democrats are the only party with the distinctive, positive vision of a fairer and greener Britain.

“Throughout his political life Ming has campaigned for liberal values and social justice and we will ensure that we build on that legacy.”

‘I Am the Mother of the Driver’ Reactions to Rare Footage of U.S. Troops in Iraq By DAVID MUIR

July 17, 2007

After “World News With Charles Gibson” aired exclusive footage of the troop surge in Iraq from British photographer Sean Smith, we received an extraordinary response on this Web site.

The footage provided an unfiltered look at the front lines of the surge.

In one instance, troops are seen watching a Bradley armored vehicle blown up by an improvised explosive device as six American soldiers died inside.

Members of Apache Company were called to help. There was nothing they could do. (Click on the video player in the right hand side of this page to watch the report.)

Apache Company was sent to Iraq in June 2006 for a 12-month rotation, which has since been extended to a 15-month tour. The soldiers are seen speaking openly about the effects of the endless combat and the grueling daily routine.

“We got grenades going off, we’ve got an IED blowing up your vehicle & and then, you are expected to go back in those four to six, four to five hours & and relax!” said Cpl. Joshua Lake, 2nd Infantry Division. “You just don’t have time to do it. Your body never gets to come down. You’re always on that heightened sense of alertness.”

Until Monday night’s report, Lake’s mother had not heard her son’s voice in a month.

“He’s up for hours at a time. He can’t sleep because his body is so tense when he comes back, and you know there’s no way of laying down,” Debbie Lake-McMahon told ABC News. “He said that he lays there and his body just trembles.”

We also received hundreds of e-mails from viewers, including one who said the report was “so disturbing that I had nightmares after what I saw.”

For another, the nightmare is real.

“I am the mother of the driver of the Bradley you see upside down and burning,” she wrote. “He was 19 years old and could see the futility of Iraq invasion and occupation.”

Another relative of a fallen soldier wrote, “For one moment, we captured the sense of fear, hate, anxiety, stress, depression that befell our beloved one. We miss him. I am so angry, because after all of this  the sacrifice  Bush and his supporters have not moved forward on this.”

Many of you criticized ABC News and said we were focusing only on the negative, and called it “irresponsible and cowardly reporting.”

While many others were glad to hear the soldiers’ point of view, as with this comment, which simply stated, “Thank you for finally doing a story from their perspective.”