WASHINGTON, June 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Richard Boucher resigned on Friday as US State Department spokesman, leaving the podium for the Department's daily press briefings to Sean McCormack.

    McCormack was introduced to the press by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who said that "I came to make a handoff here."

    McCormack was spokesman for Rice when she served as the presidential advisor on national security in George W. Bush's first term of presidency.

    Boucher, a career diplomat, served as State Department spokesman for five years from 2000, a post that has made him one of the well-known figures in the US administration.

    He did the same job from 1989 to 1993.

    "Richard obviously has been the consummate professional. He is somebody on whom I've relied, not just for advice on communications and press matters, but on all kinds of matters of foreign policy," Rice said.

    Boucher's new job has not been announced. But Rice said that she would "find the right place for Richard to continue to serve in this government." Enditem