Senate committee backs spy chief

Negroponte was ambassador to the UN and to Iraq

John Negroponte has been approved by a key Senate committee as the United States' first director of national intelligence.

If confirmed by the full Senate next week, Mr Negroponte will lead the 15 separate US intelligence agencies.

The job was created by the US Congress in response to criticism of the intelligence community's failure to forecast the 9/11 attacks.

Mr Negroponte, a career diplomat, was previously US ambassador to Iraq.

Challenge

Only one Democratic committee member, Sen Ron Wyden of Oregon, suggested he would oppose the 65-year-old's nomination.

However, Mr Negroponte and his proposed deputy, National Security Agency Director Lt Gn Mike Hayden, are expected to be approved.

Accepting the nomination in February, Mr Negroponte said it would be "undoubtedly the most challenging assignment I have undertaken in more than 40 years of government service".

Mr Negroponte will take primary responsibility for delivering the president's daily intelligence briefing, Mr Bush said - and will set budgets for the intelligence agencies.

Mr Negroponte became US ambassador to Iraq in July, after having been his country's envoy to the United Nations.