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Paul Manafort, campaign chairman of US Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, has resigned his position, the campaign organisation confirmed on Friday.
Manafort’s resignation comes as his ties to pro-Russian forces in Ukraine were revealed. Reports linking him to former Ukrainian Leader Viktor Yanukovych had brought him into public scrutiny.
Earlier this week, Trump brought in Stephen K. Bannon, chairman of the Breitbart News website, as his campaign’s chief executive, pushing aside Manafort.
According to CNBC news, Manafort, 67, joined the campaign in March, and had clashed with campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who was fired three months later.
Trump said in a statement:
“This morning Paul Manafort offered, and I accepted, his resignation from the campaign.
“I am very appreciative for his great work in helping to get us where we are today, and in particular his work guiding us through the delegate and convention process.
“Paul is a true professional and I wish him the greatest success.”
The shakeup comes less than three months to the election in November.