CLINTON NAMED SECRETARY OF STATE!
US President-elect Barack Obama has nominated his former rival Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state.
The news follows weeks of speculation as to what role the former first lady would play in the Obama administration.
Mrs Clinton lost out to Mr Obama when the two contested a bitterly fought race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.
At a news conference in Chicago, Mr Obama also announced nominations for other key National Security team posts.
Mr Obama said the time had come for a "new dawn of American leadership to overcome the challenges of the 21st century, and to seize the opportunities embedded in those challenges".
The news follows weeks of speculation as to what role the former first lady would play in the Obama administration.
Mrs Clinton lost out to Mr Obama when the two contested a bitterly fought race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.
At a news conference in Chicago, Mr Obama also announced nominations for other key National Security team posts.
Mr Obama said the time had come for a "new dawn of American leadership to overcome the challenges of the 21st century, and to seize the opportunities embedded in those challenges".
He said of Mrs Clinton: "She's an American of tremendous stature who will have my complete confidence, who knows many of the world's leaders, who will command respect in every capital, and who will clearly have the ability to advance our interests around the world."
Although the two repeatedly clashed during the nomination race, Mrs Clinton went on to campaign for Mr Obama as he took on Republican John McCain in the race for the White House.
Former president Bill Clinton had cleared the way for his wife's appointment by reaching a complicated agreement on his financial arrangements, reports said.
OBAMA'S SECURITY TEAM
Secretary of State: Hillary Clinton
Defence Secretary: Robert Gates
National Security Adviser: General James Jones
Department of Homeland Security: Janet Napolitano
Ambassador to the UN: Susan Rice
Attorney General: Eric Holder
Correspondents said there had been fears her nomination could falter over the appearance of conflicts of interest between her husband's charitable foundation and lucrative speechmaking schedule.
Mr Clinton has agreed to release the list of donors to his foundation by the end of the year, officials overseeing the presidential transition said.
He has also agreed to submit future engagements, speeches and sources of income to the State Department and the White House and to take a more behind-the-scenes role in the daily running of his foundation, sources said.
Mrs Clinton pledged to give the job "her all".
"The American people have demanded not just a new direction at home, but a new effort to renew America's standing in the world as a force for positive change," she said.
The current secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, praised Mrs Clinton as an "inspiration" who would "bring enormous energy and intellect" to the role.
"And most important I know her to be somebody who has what you need most in this job: which is a deep love of the United States of America."
Announcing his team, President-elect Obama said: "The national security challenges we face are just as great and just as urgent as our economic crisis."
Defence Secretary, Robert Gates will remain in his job, Mr Obama said.
Selecting Mr Gates - who was appointed by President George W Bush two years ago - allows Mr Obama to honour a promise to name at least one Republican cabinet member.
Retired General James Jones - a former top commander of Nato and US forces in Europe - was nominated as National Security Adviser.
He served in the Bush administration as a Middle East adviser.
Other appointments include Eric Holder as Attorney-General, Susan Rice as Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona as Secretary of Homeland Security.
BBC NEWS REPORT.
"The American people have demanded not just a new direction at home, but a new effort to renew America's standing in the world as a force for positive change," she said.
The current secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, praised Mrs Clinton as an "inspiration" who would "bring enormous energy and intellect" to the role.
"And most important I know her to be somebody who has what you need most in this job: which is a deep love of the United States of America."
Announcing his team, President-elect Obama said: "The national security challenges we face are just as great and just as urgent as our economic crisis."
Defence Secretary, Robert Gates will remain in his job, Mr Obama said.
Selecting Mr Gates - who was appointed by President George W Bush two years ago - allows Mr Obama to honour a promise to name at least one Republican cabinet member.
Retired General James Jones - a former top commander of Nato and US forces in Europe - was nominated as National Security Adviser.
He served in the Bush administration as a Middle East adviser.
Other appointments include Eric Holder as Attorney-General, Susan Rice as Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona as Secretary of Homeland Security.
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