DHAKA: British foreign secretary William Hague has quit from the post and will stay in the cabinet as Leader of the Commons, Downing Street has said.  

Hague is to leave Parliament at the 2015 general election after 26 years as MP for Richmond, North Yorkshire, says BBC on Tuesday.     

As part of a significant ministerial reshuffle, veteran Conservative MP Ken Clarke has also stepped down.   

Senior ministers have told that the current defence secretary, Philip Hammond, will replace Hague.       

Labour described the reshuffle as "the massacre of the moderates". 

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "William Hague has been one of the leading lights of the Conservative Party for a generation, leading the party and serving in two cabinets.

BDST: 0934 HRS, JUL 15, 2014