British Defense Secretary Liam Fox resigned Friday amid a furor over his friendship with a businessman who posed as his advisor.
The British media have swarmed on the nature of the relationship between Fox and his former roommate Adam Werritty who was also the best man at his wedding and met frequently with Fox at the defense ministry.
The resignation is seen as a jolt to Prime Minister David Cameron's coalition government and a hamper on efforts to reform the military.
SOUNDBITE: U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, saying: (English): "I quite understand why Liam Fox has decided to resign, though obviously I'm sorry to see him go because he did a good job at the Ministry of Defence, clearing up the mess left by the last government, giving good leadership to that department, particularly when we've been in action in Libya and also of course in Afghanistan as well. So I wish him well for the future."
In his resignation letter Fox said "I mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my government activities to become blurred. The consequences of this have become clearer in recent days. I am very sorry for this."
Werritty had no security clearance nor government role, but met Fox at least 40 times in the last 18 months at the defense ministry and abroad.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.
