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| John Kerry 'to be nominated for US secretary of state' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama is to nominate John Kerry to be his next secretary of state, US media report. | US President Barack Obama is to nominate John Kerry to be his next secretary of state, US media report. |
| Mr Kerry would replace Hillary Clinton at the head of the state department, the media quoted senior administration officials as saying. | Mr Kerry would replace Hillary Clinton at the head of the state department, the media quoted senior administration officials as saying. |
| Mr Kerry ran as Democratic presidential candidate in 2004 and is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. | Mr Kerry ran as Democratic presidential candidate in 2004 and is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. |
| His nomination comes after the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, withdrew from consideration last week. | His nomination comes after the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, withdrew from consideration last week. |
| Republicans had fiercely criticised her role in the aftermath of the deadly attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in September. | Republicans had fiercely criticised her role in the aftermath of the deadly attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in September. |
| Influential senator | Influential senator |
| Mr Kerry, 69, would be Mr Obama's first new cabinet nomination since he won a second term last month. | |
| The president will also have to name a new defence secretary to replace Leon Panetta, and a new director of the CIA to take over from David Petreaus, who quit last month after admitting an affair. | |
| Mr Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, lost a close presidential election to George W Bush in 2004 and had been a contender for the state department in 2008, before Mrs Clinton was chosen. | Mr Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, lost a close presidential election to George W Bush in 2004 and had been a contender for the state department in 2008, before Mrs Clinton was chosen. |
| Mr Kerry has since remained an influential senator, making key trips to Pakistan, Syria and the Gaza Strip. | Mr Kerry has since remained an influential senator, making key trips to Pakistan, Syria and the Gaza Strip. |
| Mrs Clinton has indicated she will step down early next year. | |
| Mr Kerry will have to give up his seat in the Senate, where he represents Massachusetts. The Democrats may face a tough battle to keep it in the subsequent election. | |
| Analysts say Mr Kerry's nomination is unlikely to face opposition from Republicans, who had threatened to oppose Ms Rice, despite the president's strong defence of her actions over Libya. | |
| Mr Kerry himself had spoken up for Ms Rice, saying: "I've defended her publicly and wouldn't hesitate to do so again because I know her character and I know her commitment. She's an extraordinarily capable and dedicated public servant." | |
| Ms Rice's troubles began days after the 11 September assault on the US consulate. She said in a series of TV interviews that it seemed to have developed out of protests over an anti-Islamic film. | |
| But later intelligence reports suggested the attack was carried out by al-Qaeda affiliates. | |
| Her comments triggered a major political row over who knew what and when, and whether the consulate was adequately protected. | |
| The attack left four Americans dead, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. |