Christiane Amanpour to leave CNN after 43 years

Christiane Amanpour first gained international recognition among CNN viewers for her coverage of the 1991 Gulf War following Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. (Reuters pic) NEW YORK: Veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour said Monday she is leaving her role at CNN after a 43-year career as one of the US broadcaster's most prominent international correspondents.

"After thinking carefully for several months and experiencing a few sleepless nights, as you can imagine, I've decided to separate from CNN," Amanpour, 68, said in a statement.

Her announcement came weeks after media corporation Paramount Skydance formally took over Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN.

That merger has drawn concerns over the independence of CNN as the merged company's owners, the Ellison family, are close allies of US president Donald Trump - a fierce critic of the TV network.

Amanpour did not reference the deal but emphasised her commitment to being "fiercely independent."

"That's especially important today as we face unprecedented pressures from all sides, political, financial, and also from the rising dangers in the field," she said.

British-born Amanpour first became known to the CNN audience internationally for her coverage of the 1991 Gulf War that followed Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

She has interviewed many of the world's leaders and newsmakers over the past decades and reported from hotspots such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Rwanda and the Balkans.

Amanpour said her daily news show on CNN will be scaled back to once a week until next June, while her PBS program will also end.

She added that she "looks forward to interesting new projects down the line, and will always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism. Remember: always be truthful, not neutral."

In a memo carried by US media, CNN chief executive Mark Thompson praised Amanpour "for 43 extraordinary years of remarkable journalism, loyalty and friendship."

"Like so many CNNers who will hear the news today, I'm very sorry to see her go, but I've come to accept that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally," Thompson said.