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Powell and Three Others Leaving Cabinet

Nov 15, 12:45 PM (ET)

By GEORGE GEDDA and DEB RIECHMANN

WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Colin Powell and three other Cabinet members have resigned, it was disclosed Monday, escalating the shake-up of President Bush's second-term team. Senior administration officials said national security adviser Condoleezza Rice was most likely to succeed Powell.

Powell's resignation, submitted last Friday, was confirmed Monday, as were those of three others - Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and Education Secretary Rod Paige.

With the resignations earlier of Attorney General John Ashcroft and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans, the departures of six of 15 Cabinet members have been revealed. The musical-chairs act assured Bush a significant Cabinet face-lift with his second inauguration over two months away.

"I believe that now that the election is over, the time has come for me to step down," Powell, 67, wrote the president.