WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (AFP) - The US Senate on Thursday set aside two days next week to debate and vote on the nomination of Condoleezza Rice to become the next US Secretary of State.
Republicans had sought to start debate Thursday, following the inauguration of US President George W. Bush, and just one day after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 16-2 to approve Rice, currently Bush's national security adviser.
Democrats objected however, saying that the nomination required thorough deliberation by the full Senate, and Senate leaders set aside Tuesday for debate and Wednesday for a floor vote on the nomination.
"It certainly doesn't seem untoward in any way that the senators have some time to speak before this most important nomination," said Harry Reid, the leader of Democrats in the Senate, on the floor of the chamber.
Senator Mitch McConnell, a top Republican, had argued to hold the vote Thursday, saying the time had come to allow ongoing Secretary of State Colin Powell to pass the mantle to his successor.
"We were all of us just at a luncheon where I had a chance to speak with the current secretary of state, who is anxious to get back to tinkering with his cars," McConnell said, adding that Powell would extend his tenure for the next few days "with some regret."
01/20/2005 21:10 GMT - AFP