Thursday, January 20 2005 12:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday (Jan 19, 2005) voted 16 to 2 to recommend to the Senate confirmation of Condolezza Rice, the current National Security Adviser to President George W Bush, as the new Secretary of State.

The two who voted against confirmation were Senators John F Kerry and Senator Barbara Boxer.

The next steps are the expected confirmation of the Senate and swearing in by President Bush. The Senate is expected to confirm the nomination in time for the President to swear her in soon after his inauguration for a second term, though he can do so any time.