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Less than a week after Mayor Rob Ford’s chief of staff is said to have confronted the mayor over explosive crack cocaine allegations, he was fired.

Mark Towhey gave the mayor three options last Friday, a source told the Post: fight the accusations — and lose, resign or go away and get help for his “problem.”

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Thursday afternoon, a security guard escorted Mr. Towhey out of City Hall following a meeting with Mr. Ford and the city manager.

In the parking garage, amid a crush of reporters, Mr. Towhey stopped briefly to say goodbye to his “outstanding” colleagues.

“I am no longer the chief of staff,” he said. “I did not resign.”

Mr. Towhey would not elaborate on what led to his dismissal, except to say that it was not a surprise. He also would not say what his advice has been to Mr. Ford, who is under intense public scrutiny after the U.S. website Gawker and the Toronto Star reported that he had been caught on video smoking what appears to be crack cocaine. Civic leaders, city councillors and crisis-management experts are urging the mayor to provide a more detailed response beyond his “ridiculous” assertion.