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US Senate clears way for Hagel defence secretary vote Chuck Hagel confirmed as US defence secretary by Senate
(35 minutes later)
The US Senate has cleared the way for the confirmation of former Senator Chuck Hagel as defence secretary. The US Senate has confirmed former Senator Chuck Hagel as the new Pentagon chief, after a bloc of Republicans dropped their opposition to him.
In a critical test vote, the chamber agreed to hold a final vote on Mr Hagel's bid later on Tuesday, when he is expected to win confirmation easily. The former Republican Nebraska senator was confirmed by 58-41 in a simple majority vote.
The Senate move comes 12 days after Republicans delayed a vote, questioning his past positions on Israel and Iran and his qualifications. Mr Hagel will replace outgoing Defence Secretary Leon Panetta.
But critics dropped their delaying manoeuvre after a week-long recess. The Senate move comes 12 days after Republicans delayed a vote, questioning his past positions on Israel and Iran and his qualifications for the post.
Just after noon on Tuesday in Washington DC, the US Senate held a procedural vote to end debate on the confirmation of Mr Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska nominated by President Barack Obama to lead the Pentagon. But critics dropped the manoeuvre, the first for a defence secretary confirmation, after a week-long recess.
The motion passed 71-27, easily overcoming the 60-vote threshold. A final majority vote on the nomination is expected at 16:30 local time (21:30 GMT). Mr Obama's Democratic Party holds a 55-45 edge in the chamber. Mr Obama's Democratic Party holds a 55-45 edge in the chamber, and Mr Hagel ultimately only needed 51 votes to be confirmed.
Among other sticking points in Mr Hagel's nomination process was a remark he made in a 2008 book that the "Jewish lobby" intimidated decision-makers on Capitol Hill. Earlier on Tuesday, he passed a crucial procedural vote that needed the support of 60 senators.
Republican senators also said they feared Mr Hagel would be too lax on Iran, and Ted Cruz, an outspoken conservative freshman senator from Texas, suggested without evidence that Mr Hagel had accepted payments from North Korea. Among the sticking points in Mr Hagel's nomination process was a remark he made in a 2008 book that the "Jewish lobby" intimidated decision-makers on Capitol Hill.
Republican senators also said they feared the 66-year-old Mr Hagel would be too lax on Iran.
Ted Cruz, an outspoken conservative first-term senator from Texas, suggested without evidence that Mr Hagel had accepted payments from North Korea.
During a confirmation hearing this year, Mr Hagel sought to reassure the Senate armed services committee that he was "fully committed" to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.During a confirmation hearing this year, Mr Hagel sought to reassure the Senate armed services committee that he was "fully committed" to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
He also apologised for the "Jewish lobby" comment, saying he could not be defined by any single quote.He also apologised for the "Jewish lobby" comment, saying he could not be defined by any single quote.
Mr Hagel's Democratic Party supporters produced other remarks and evidence they said showed he would stick to existing US policy on Israel and Iran.Mr Hagel's Democratic Party supporters produced other remarks and evidence they said showed he would stick to existing US policy on Israel and Iran.
The White House warned of great risks in leaving the Pentagon without a leader at a time of budget challenges and while the US has troops in Afghanistan.The White House warned of great risks in leaving the Pentagon without a leader at a time of budget challenges and while the US has troops in Afghanistan.
And Senate Democrats blasted their colleagues for the delay.
"Politically motivated delays send a terrible signal to our allies and to the world," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said.
But some Republicans said they needed more time to weigh Mr Hagel's nomination.
Others said outright they would not vote for the former Senator, including several senior Republicans on the armed services committee.