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Negroponte nears Rice deputy role Casey confirmed as US army chief
(about 13 hours later)
A US Senate panel has backed John Negroponte, the outgoing intelligence chief, as deputy secretary of state. Senators in the United States have approved the nomination of General George Casey as the country's next army chief of staff.
Mr Negroponte, who has served as ambassador to Iraq and the United Nations, is expected to be confirmed as the new deputy by the full Senate. Lawmakers backed Gen Casey, who has commanded US forces in Iraq for more than two years, by 83 votes to 14.
The role has been vacant since Robert Zoellick left the post last July. But some key senators - both Republican and Democrat - voted against him for failing to stem the violence in Iraq.
The Senate on Wednesday approved Navy Vice Admiral Michael McConnell as the new head of intelligence. Earlier, a senate panel backed John Negroponte, the outgoing intelligence chief, as deputy secretary of state.
The choice of Mr Negroponte as deputy to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was announced last month. Mr Negroponte, who has served as ambassador to Iraq and the United Nations, must now be confirmed by the full Senate.
His appointment needs approval from the Senate, where the Democrats hold the balance of power. 'Accountable'
'Reported favourably' Gen Casey was given command of US forces in Iraq in July 2004, but replaced last month by Gen David Petraeus as part of President George W Bush's shake-up of his Iraq team.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved Mr Negroponte's nomination on a voice vote. Those opposing Gen Casey's nomination included two potential presidential hopefuls, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain.
"The 'ayes' have it ... He will be reported to the Senate favourably," Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Joe Biden, a Delaware Democrat, told the panel, according to the Reuters news agency. Sen McCain said that as commander in the field, Gen Casey should be held accountable for the performance of US military forces in Iraq.
Until he became the Bush administration's man in Baghdad in July 2004, he was its representative in the United Nations, charged with arguing the case for attacking Iraq. Nine other Republican senators opposed Gen Casey's nomination.
He also won international support for the war in Afghanistan in 2001. But, says the BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington, the majority argued that the problems in Iraq were the fault of policy makers, not military commanders.
On Wednesday the Senate approved Navy Vice Adm Michael McConnell as the new head of intelligence, to replace Mr Negroponte.
Mr Negroponte was named as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's deputy last month, filling a role left vacant since Robert Zoellick left the post last July.