Thursday, January 27 2005 09:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Condoleezza Rice was today (Jan 27, 2005) sworn in as the new Secretary of State at a White House ceremony following her confirmation as America's top diplomat by the US Senate. The Senate yesterday (Jan 26, 2005) confirmed Rice as President George W Bush's new Secretary of State in an impressive 85-13 vote, making her the first black woman to hold the post.

She is likely to go to the State Department early this morning to greet the staff and move into her new office.

Rice, 50, National Security Adviser in Bush's first term in office, succeeds Colin Powell.

She was Bush's most trusted security aide and an architect of policies on Iraq and war on terror.

As she takes up her new assignment, there is intense speculation whether there will be any change in policy.