WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (AFP) - Key facts on Colin Powell who has resigned as US Secretary of State:
-- Born April 5, 1937 in the Bronx district of New York, the son of Jamaican immigrants. He is the highest ranking African-American in any US administration.
-- After joining the army, Powell served in Vietnam and rose through the ranks to become a four-star general. He headed the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the pinnacle of the US military, from 1989 to 1993.
-- His experience of the Vietnam War led him to develop the "Powell Doctrine" that the United States should use overwhelming force based on clear political objectives if it is to get involved in a foreign conflict.
-- Powell was in charge of the army during the 1991 Gulf War after Iraq invaded Kuwait. After winning back Kuwait, Powell persuaded President George H.W. Bush not to press the offensive as far as Baghdad to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
-- After quitting the military in 1993, he considered standing for the presidency while working for America's Promise, an advocacy group for disadvantaged youth.
-- Became secretary of state in the George W. Bush administration that took office in January 2001.
-- Powell had the tough job of selling the March 2003 Iraq invasion to many sceptical countries on the UN Security Council on February 5, 2003. Powell's speech cited evidence of weapons of mass destruction but none were ever found.
-- Sent letter of resignation to President Bush on November 12, 2004 saying he had been discussing it with Bush "in recent months".
11/15/2004 19:15 GMT - AFP