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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| John Kerry nominated as next US secretary of state | John Kerry nominated as next US secretary of state |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has nominated Senator John Kerry to succeed Hillary Clinton as his next secretary of state. | |
| Mr Obama said Mr Kerry's "entire life" prepared him for the role, and praised him for the "respect and confidence" he has earned from world leaders. | Mr Obama said Mr Kerry's "entire life" prepared him for the role, and praised him for the "respect and confidence" he has earned from world leaders. |
| 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 |
| Speaking at the White House, Mr Obama said Mr Kerry understood the need to "harness all elements of American power", and said the veteran senator was "not going to need a lot of on-the-job training". | Speaking at the White House, Mr Obama said Mr Kerry understood the need to "harness all elements of American power", and said the veteran senator was "not going to need a lot of on-the-job training". |
| The president added that he was sure Mr Kerry would be swiftly confirmed in the Senate. | The president added that he was sure Mr Kerry would be swiftly confirmed in the Senate. |
| Mrs Clinton, who is still recuperating from a stomach virus and concussion, was not present for the announcement. | |
| But in a statement, Mrs Clinton said Mr Kerry was an "excellent choice" of head for the state department. | |
| "He will be able to sustain and extend America's global leadership," she said. | |
| Mr Kerry, 69, becomes Mr Obama's first new cabinet nomination since he won a second term in November. | Mr Kerry, 69, becomes Mr Obama's first new cabinet nomination since he won a second term in November. |
| 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 Petraeus, who quit last month after admitting an affair. | 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 Petraeus, 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. |
| The BBC's Washington correspondent, Kim Ghattas, says Mr Kerry is well-steeped in the details of world affairs and diplomacy. | The BBC's Washington correspondent, Kim Ghattas, says Mr Kerry is well-steeped in the details of world affairs and diplomacy. |
| She says he has been the Obama administration's unofficial envoy to various hotspots, from Pakistan to Afghanistan. | She says he has been the Obama administration's unofficial envoy to various hotspots, from Pakistan to Afghanistan. |
| If confirmed, he will face the problem of ongoing Syrian unrest and continuing concern over Iran's nuclear programme. | If confirmed, he will face the problem of ongoing Syrian unrest and continuing concern over Iran's nuclear programme. |
| Mrs Clinton has indicated she will step down early next year. | 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 the state of Massachusetts. The Democrats may face a tough battle to keep it in the subsequent election. | Mr Kerry will have to give up his seat in the Senate, where he represents the state of 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | The attack left four Americans dead, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. |