U.S. international aid head to step down

WASHINGTON — The head of the U.S. Agency for International Development says he will step down from the post in February.

USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah has led the agency since 2010. In a statement released Wednesday morning, he said he had “mixed emotions” but gave no reason for his resignation.

USAID describes itself as the lead U.S. government agency working to fight poverty and promote democracy around the world. Shah says he is “more confident than ever in the lasting effect of our work.”

The agency has drawn criticism in recent months after The Associated Press revealed it had established a secret Twitter-like service in Cuba aimed at undermining the government and infiltrated its hip-hop scene in efforts to recruit dissidents there.