Washington: White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, the public face of the Bush administration through two wars and a terrorist attack, said on May 19 he will resign in July to enter the private sector. His replacement will likely be Deputy Press Secretary Scott McLellan.

"I've decided my time has come to leave the White House," Fleischer said in a telephone interview.

The spokesman said he wanted to leave the hard-driving job before President George W Bush's re- election campaign geared up.

Fleischer clashed at times with the White House press corps and had an uneasy relationship with some senior Bush aides, but he said the departure was his idea. He notified Bush of his decision on May 16. The President ended the conversation "by kissing me on the head", the spokesman said.

Fleischer, 42, got married six months ago. He said that after 21 years in government he wanted to go on the speaking circuit and maybe do some writing. With Bush beginning his re-election campaign, Fleischer said this is the time to leave the White House "or go on for the full four years".

"I've just been thinking about what I want to do, where I want to do it," he said. "I believe deeply in this President, his policies and the man. But there comes a time in public service when you have to decide when its time to go."

Bush has not decided who will replace Fleischer, two senior White House officials said. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Texas native McLellan is the likely replacement but there are other candidates.