American News Anchor Rather To Retire

CBS news presenter Dan Rather has announced he is to retire from the channel's main evening news broadcast early next year (05).

The 73-year-old has presented the American network's nightly show for almost a quarter of a century.

However, he's not planning to quit his trade altogether - he will continue to work as a correspondent.

He says, "I have been lucky and blessed over these years to have what is, to me, the best job in the world and to have it at CBS News."

The award-winning journalist made his name as a reporter covering disgraced President RICHARD NIXON's White House, but recently came into conflict with the George W Bush administration over a documentary suggesting the leader had not fulfilled his National Guard service during the Vietnam war.