LONDON, Aug 29: The controversy over the death of British weapons expert David Kelly claimed its first political scalp when a powerful aide to Prime Minister Tony Blair announced on Friday that he was resigning.

Alastair Campbell, one of the longest serving members of Mr Blair’s inner circle and often called the “real deputy prime minister” because of his influence, said he would be standing down as the prime minister’s director of communications and strategy.

“It has been an enormous privilege to work so closely in opposition and in government for someone I believe history will judge as a great transforming prime minister,” he said in a statement.—AFP/Reuters