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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Christine S. Abizaid, the top U.S. counterterrorism official, plans to step down as director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) next month after three years on the job, the U.S. intelligence director said on Wednesday.
The center, set up in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, is part of the U.S. intelligence community under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Brett Holmgren, assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research, will assume leadership of the center, said Avril Haines, director of national intelligence.
Abizaid stepped down for personal reasons, an NCTC spokesperson said.
Before the NCTC, Abizaid served as a deputy assistant defense secretary for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia and held counterterrorism posts at the White House National Security Council and Defense Intelligence Agency.
(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Phil Stewart; Editing by Richard Chang)
