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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, May 25, 2003

Australian Governor-general Decides to Resign

According to the Australian Associated Press, Hollingworth has told Prime Minister John Howard he wants to resign.


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Australian Governor-General Peter Hollingworth at last decided to resign Sunday.

According to the Australian Associated Press, Hollingworth has told Prime Minister John Howard he wants to resign.

"Despite the misplaced and unwarranted allegations made againstme as governor-general, it is clear that continuing public controversy has the potential to undermine and diminish my capacity to uphold the importance, dignity and integrity of this high office that I have been privileged and proud to occupy," he said in a statement.

Governor-general in Australia is the representative of the Queen and the nominal head of state. Since he took the place less than two years ago, Hollingworth has been twined by scandals. He was accused of shielding his subordinates who made child abuses when he was the Archbishop in Queensland.

Earlier this year a woman alleged the governor-general has raped her about 40 years ago and the suit forced him step aside from the position two weeks ago. On Friday, the family of the woman withdrew their civil case against Hollingworth in the Victorian Supreme Court. But the pressure on him has not eased.

Hollingworth spoke to Prime Minister John Howard by phone Sunday and asked Howard to advise the Queen of his decision. A spokesman for Prime Minister John Howard stressed it was the Hollingworth's decision.

Hollingworth is the first governor-general to resign since 1903.


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