Chief of Small Business Administration resigns

Small Business Administration Administrator Hector Barreto, who had come under criticism for delays in providing loans following last year's hurricanes, announced Tuesday that he was stepping down, the Associated Press reported.

Barreto said he was leaving the administration to head the Latino Coalition, a Hispanic advocacy group. His departure comes at a time when White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten is shaking up the administration in the face of low approval ratings for President Bush.

A spokesman for Barreto said he had not been asked to leave by the White House.