London: Tony Blair's media chief Alastair Campbell announced his decision to quit on August 29, a day after the British Prime Minister gave evidence before the Hutton inquiry probing the death of weapons expert David Kelly, the source to a BBC report that the government had "sexed up" an intelligence dossier to justify war on Iraq.

Campbell, Prime Minister's Director of Communications and Strategy, said his family had paid a heavy price for the "real and intense" pressures of his job and it was "time to move on and do other things".

No successor has been announced.

The dramatic announcement comes amid the Hutton inquiry into the death of the weapons expert.

Campbell gave evidence to the inquiry last week over the BBC report that the Prime Minister's Office had "sexed up" the Iraq arms dossier.

Announcing his decision to quit, Campbell said he would leave Downing Street along with his partner Fiona Millar, who works for Cherie Blair, in a "few weeks".

He said it had been "an enormous privilege to work so closely in opposition and in government for someone I believe history will judge as a great transforming Prime Minister".

Reciprocating the sentiments, Blair said, "The Alastair Campbell I know is an immensely able, fearless, loyal servant of the cause he believes in, who was dedicated not only to that cause but to his country."

"He was, is, and will remain a good friend."

PTI