NEW YORK, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Wachovia Corp. Chief Executive Ken Thompson was kicked out Monday as head of the nation's fourth-largest bank due to losses and write-downs from mortgage-related securities.

    The board of the Charlotte-based bank said it asked Thompson, 58, to retire and replaced him on an interim basis with Chairman Lanty Smith.

    Wachovia said last month it lost 707 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter, nearly doubling the losses it reported earlier after further review of its portfolio.

    Also on Monday, Seattle-based Washington Mutual Inc. stripped Kerry Killinger of his chairman title, though he remains the chief executive officer at the nation's largest savings and loan.