Kerik refuses job as Homeland Security Department head

The person American President George W Bush had named as the next secretary of the Homeland Security Department has expressed his inability to take up the responsibility due to personal reasons.

Bush had put forward the name of former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik to fill the vacancy created by the departure of Tom Ridge.

• More news reports

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said that Kerik informed the White House on Friday that he will not be able to take up the job.

The Homeland Security Department was set up after the 9/11 attacks in the US to prevent such terrorist acts.