Afghan defense minister resigns after parliamentary censure

Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak resigned on Tuesday after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament in handling security and being relegated to an acting role by President Hamid Karzai.

Wardak, one of the country's two key security ministers, told reporters he respected parliament's decision, which could complicate NATO plans to hand security responsibilities to Afghan forces before the end of 2014. (Reuters)