WASHINGTON, 15 December 2002 — Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stepped down Friday as chairman of a panel investigating the Sept. 11 attacks, citing controversy over potential conflicts of interest with his private-sector clients. “It is clear that, although specific potential conflicts can be resolved in this manner, the controversy would quickly move to the consulting firm I have built and own,” Kissinger wrote in a letter to President George W. Bush, who appointed him. “I have, therefore, concluded that I cannot accept the responsibility you proposed.”

The decision was another blow to the fledging panel and the families of Sept. 11 victims. The panel’s original vice chairman, George Mitchell, resigned from the commission Wednesday, partly because of pressures to quit his law firm.

Kissinger’s resignation came one day after he tried to assure victims that his business interests would not conflict with his duties as chairman. The White House and congressional Democrats had clashed on whether he had to disclose his business clients, with Bush’s advisers saying the law did not require such disclosures.

Bush issued a written statement saying he accepted Kissinger’s resignation with regret. “His chairmanship would have provided the insights and analysis the government needs to understand the methods of our enemies and the nature of the threats we face,” the statement said.

He promised to pick a new chairman to help “uncover every detail and learn every lesson of Sept. 11, even as we act on what we have learned so far to better protect and defend America.”

Kissinger said he had told White House lawyers he was willing to remove the appearance of conflict of interests by submitting “all relevant financial information” to the White House and to an independent review. He said he could not liquidate Kissinger Associates, his international consulting firm, without delaying the commission’s work. It was not immediately clear who, if anybody, asked him to liquidate his firm.

“My hope is that by the decision to step aside now, the Joint Commission can proceed without further controversy,” he said.

The commission will investigate events surrounding the attacks, examining issues including aviation security, immigration and US diplomacy. Senate Democrats say all commission members, including Kissinger, must submit financial disclosures that would reveal potential conflicts. (AP)