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Palin was elected governor in 2006. She was tapped as Arizona Sen. John McCain's vice presidential running mate last year.

Palin said she was transferring authority to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who will be sworn in at the Governor's Picnic on July 26.

"determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is not the easiest path. ... Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional lame duck status in this particular climate would just be another dose of politics as usual, something I campaigned against and will always oppose."

A Republican source close to her political team told CNN's John King that it was a "calculation" she made that "it was time to move on." The governor's "book deal and other issues" were "causing a lot of friction" in her home state, the source said, adding that he believes she is "mapping out a path to 2012."

Another source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Palin "thinks she has accomplished goals she has set forward. ... She sees what a positive influence she has had on people's lives from traveling the country in the last year."

Following Palin's announcement, the Democratic National Committee blasted what it called her "bizarre behavior."

"Either Sarah Palin is leaving the people of Alaska high and dry to pursue her long shot national political ambitions or she simply can't handle the job now that her popularity has dimmed and oil revenues are down," DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse said.

"Either way, her decision to abandon her post and the people of Alaska who elected her continues a pattern of bizarre behavior that more than anything else may explain the decision she made today."

Republican strategist and CNN contributor Ed Rollins said, to a certain extent, Palin's announcement makes her look "terribly inept."

"I think everyone is shocked by this, and I think to a certain extent everyone is going to assume there's another story. You don't just quit with a year and a half to go. You certainly don't do this as a stepping stone to run for president. You finish the job that you're in, and obviously she's not doing that," he said.

"I think people are going to be very suspicious because of the timing. You don't quit on the Friday of a three-day holiday. If you are going to do this, you think it through, you give a good speech," Rollins said.

However, CNN Republican Strategist Mary Matalin said she thought the move was "really brilliant" on Palin's part, though she admitted she was surprised when she first heard the news.

"Her delivery was incredible, if you're a less charismatic person, you probably couldn't pull it off," Matalin said. "[Now] she will be freed up and liberated the way Mitt Romney is to raise money and get political chips by spending it and getting political capital. And she is still raising the kinds of crowds and money she always did."

Now, Matalin says, Palin must focus on "putting up with the conventional wisdom" that this was a bad move and travel the country to drum up support for a presidential run.

"She takes that target off her back with a good record to launch from," Matalin said.

When asked about whether it's possible Palin stepped down because of something negative we hadn't heard yet, Matalin referenced Palin's own words that investigators have dug through research in the ethics investigation.

"We presume if there was anything else we would know it by now," Matalin said.

In an interview last month with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Palin said she was unsure about her re-election bid because she needed to focus on her state and her family.

"So, no decision yet on either 2010 or let alone 2012?" Blitzer asked.

"No decision that I'd want to announce today," Palin responded.

Palin catapulted on the national stage last August when McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, chose her as his running mate.

Firefighters rescued 30 people, 13 of whom were taken to a hospital, many suffering from smoke inhalation, the London Fire Brigade said. London emergency officials reported that 16 people were hurt.

One-hundred firefighters using 18 engines battled the blaze in the heavily populated Camberwell area of London, fire officials said. The high-density area is mostly residential, many with young children, reported CNN's Phil Black in London.

By 9 p.m., the blaze was under control but not extinguished, firefighters said.

Meanwhile, firefighters were searching the building for anyone who might be trapped.

Firefighters have yet to begin an investigation into the cause of the fire, but it does not appear suspicious, according to the fire brigade.

Fabiano is still bound to the contract with Sevilla until 2011. If you have to pay the contracts, set prices Sevilla 32 million euros (around Rp458 billion).

So, Milan bid deemed too far from the ideal price is expected to Sevilla. Whether the request meets the Milan Sevilla, still do not have agreement. If not revealed, Milan likely not be purchased, because the current financial difficulties.

In witting, some officials now Milan are at Sevilla. They are lobbying to be prepared to lower the price Sevilla Fabiano.

Milan is a very forward, after the loss of Ricardo Kaka to Real Madrid. They were originally pursuing Edin Dzeko, but also failed. For the club, Wolfsburg, reject sell. (GL)

"I am now become a Manchester United player. I am lucky because a lot of players here. I can not participate in pre-season last year. So, I am happy now because it will join the MU at the Carrington began the first day," said Owen.

"I want to thank Sir Alex Ferguson for the trust to give me. I also gave a guarantee to pay for this with the trust game and a lot of good goals," his promise. (MU)