WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. Republican Representative Tom DeLay decided Saturday to end his bid to reclaim the post as House majority leader, which he was forced to relinquish "temporarily" in later September last year after being indicted on campaign finance charges.

File photo of US Republican Representative Tom DeLay arrives for a meeting with Republican House leaders at the Capitol, in Washington, Sep. 28, 2005. (Reuters)

   In a letter to fellow Republicans, DeLay said that "I cannot allow our adversaries to divide and distract our attention."

   The former No. 2 Republican in the House was indicted twice in September and October last year on charges stemming from allegations that a political action committee he founded in Texas funneled corporate money into state Republican legislative races in 2002 through the National Republican Party, which violated state law.

   DeLay, representing Texas' 22nd congressional district, has been struggling to clear the charges to reclaim the leadership post before the House reconvenes early this year.

   DeLay made the decision on Saturday under pressure from fellow Republicans who were concerned about their own political futures in the wake of this week's guilty pleas by lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who has agreed in a corruption investigation that could implicate some two dozen lawmakers including DeLay.

   While DeLay was expected to lose the leadership post permanently at elections late this month or early February, he intended to stay in the House.

   In a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, DeLay said he intended to seek re-election to his House seat in November for the 12th term. Enditem