Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

US Senate confirms ex-Clinton aide as CIA director

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-02-13 09:59

WASHINGTON - The US Senate has confirmed Leon Panetta, former chief of staff in President Bill Clinton's White House, to run the Central Intelligence Agency.

Leon Panetta, the nominee for Central Intelligence Agency Director, laughs while testifying in his confirmation hearing before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington February 6, 2009. [Agencies]

Panetta's nomination sailed through the chamber by a voice vote.

The former Democratic congressman from California has no direct intelligence-gathering or analysis experience. Obama said he was selected because of his managerial skills and ability to repair the agency's relationship with Congress after President George W. Bush's two tumultuous terms.

During his confirmation hearings, Panetta said it was time for the agency to move ahead and not to dwell on the harsh treatment of foreign detainees in the previous administration. He will not seek to prosecute people who participated in such interrogations.