Secretary Of State: US Senate panel backs John Kerry

WASHINGTON:

US Senator John Kerry won the unanimous support of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday to replace Hillary Clinton as the United States’ new secretary of state.

The 69-year-old Senator, who hails from the state of Massachusetts, will have to be confirmed by the full Senate – which was expected later on Tuesday – before he is sworn in by President Barack Obama.

Kerry was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee till his nomination as secretary of state. The five-term senator and 2004 failed presidential candidate has broad support from fellow Democrats as well as Republicans in the Senate.

In a signal of the strong support he enjoys, the committee members signed a resolution praising Kerry’s work in the Upper House of Congress before they voted to support his confirmation. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM REUTERS)

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2013.