US President George W. Bush announced Friday that CIA Director Porter Goss is resigning, according to CNN television.

"Porter's tenure at the CIA was one of transition, where he's helped this agency become integrated into the intelligence community, and that was a tough job," Bush said in a photo session with Goss at the Oval Office.

"He's got a five-year plan to increase the number of analysts and operatives, which is going to help make this country a safer place and help us win the war on terror," the president said.

Goss told Bush: "I believe the agency is on a very even keel, sailing well, I honestly believe that we have improved dramatically."

Goss became CIA boss on April 21, 2005. Previous to that, he was a Republican congressman from Florida for 16 years.

His deputy, who may take over in the interim, is Albert M. Calland.

In an interview with CNN, former CIA Director Stansfield Turner speculated that Goss's resignation may stem from the fact that he was passed over last year for the new position of director of national intelligence, which went to John Negroponte.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2006)