US President Barack Obama will nominate Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, CNN reports citing a senior Democratic Party representative in Washington. The official announcement is expected sometime next week, The Voice of Russia reported.
Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, earlier withdrew her name from consideration as America's top diplomat in the face of what promised to be a difficult Senate confirmation battle over remarks she made in the aftermath of a September 11 attack on the US mission in Benghazi, Libya, which left four Americans dead, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.
Next week President Obama is also expected to nominate his candidates for Secretaries of Defense, the Treasury and several other top positions.