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Bolton likely to lose post

WASHINGTON: The United States Senate's prospects for extending John Bolton's job as U.N. Ambassador essentially died as Democrats and a key Republican said they would continue to oppose the nomination.

It was another blow to President George W. Bush two days after Democrats triumphed in elections that will give them control of Congress next year.

On Wednesday, Mr. Bush had announced that Defence Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, a polarising figure and face of the Iraq war, would step down.

On Thursday, the White House resubmitted Mr. Bolton's nomination to the Senate, where the appointment has languished for more than a year.

Bush appointed him to the job temporarily in August 2005 while Congress was in recess, an appointment that will expire when the current Congress adjourns, no later than January.

Mr. Bush cannot make a second recess appointment of Mr. Bolton for the same job, but some speculated the administration might try to keep the ambassador at the United Nations in some manner. Senator Lincoln Chafee, who was defeated by Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse, told reporters that he would continue opposing Mr. Bolton. Democrats indicated they would stretch out debate on Mr. Bolton with the aim of killing it. — AP

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