DUBAI, April 14: Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Friday dismissed calls from retired US generals for his resignation.

In an interview to be broadcast on Al Arabiya television, Mr Rumsfeld said: “I intend to serve the president at his pleasure,” according to a transcript of the interview.

“Obviously if, out of thousands and thousands of admirals and generals, if every time two or three people disagreed, we changed the secretary of defence of the United States, it would be like a merry-go-round.”

Mr Rumsfeld’s comments were his first public reaction to the demands for his resignation made by five retired generals, three of whom served in Iraq.

The latest calls came this week from major general Charles Swannack, a former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq; major general John Batiste, who led the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq; and major general John Riggs, also a former division commander.—AFP