22/06/2011 12:25
Leon Panetta confirmed as Pentagon chief
The US Senate has voted unanimously to approve the nomination of CIA chief Leon Panetta to succeed Robert Gates as US defense secretary, according to BBC.
One of Mr Panetta's first jobs will be to oversee the start of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.
Mr Gates is retiring on 30 June after close to five years in the position.
Mr Panetta, a Democrat from California, served as chief of staff to President Bill Clinton between 1994 and 1997 and took over at the CIA in February 2009.