Bush nominee 'to withdraw'

The Labour Secretary is accused of employing an illegal immigrant

US President-elect George W Bush's nominee for labour secretary is to withdraw her name from consideration for the post, Republican Party sources have said.

Linda Chavez was due to announce her decision at a news conference on Tuesday, they said.

The sources added that she considered herself a distraction to Mr Bush following questions about an illegal immigrant who stayed in her house in the early 1990s.

Ms Chavez had been reluctant to withdraw but was urged to do so by officials in a meeting behind closed doors.

Mr Bush said on Monday that he still had confidence in Ms Chavez but later admitted that he had not known of the issue when he nominated her.

The Bush transition team has acknowledged that Ms Chavez allowed the woman to stay in her home, but said Ms Chavez did not know at the time about the woman's status.

President Clinton's first choice as Attorney-General, Zoe Baird, failed to take office after it was disclosed that she had employed an illegal immigrant as a nanny.

BBC correspondents say that Ms Chavez was vocal in her criticism of Ms Baird's nomination at the time.