US defence secretary confirmed

Robert Gates said he would speak his mind, if confirmed

Robert Gates has been confirmed as the next US defence secretary, replacing Donald Rumsfeld who quit last month amid criticism of his Iraq policy.

The Senate approved President George W Bush's nominee just a day after Mr Gates won the unanimous endorsement of the 21-member Armed Services Committee.

Mr Gates told the Senate committee the US was not winning the war in Iraq and said he was open to new policy ideas.

It comes on the same day a major report on US policy in Iraq is published.

The Iraq Study Group recommended that US troops should be withdrawn from combat and instead used to train Iraqis.

It also favoured the idea of holding a regional conference on Iraq including Syria and Iran, with whom Washington has refused to negotiate directly.

Mr Bush said the report would be taken "very seriously".

'Change of tactics'

Mr Gates said the US was not winning the war in Iraq

Mr Gates stood down from the bipartisan group after Mr Bush picked him to replace Mr Rumsfeld.

On Tuesday, the 63-year-old told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he would introduce a change of tactics, if confirmed and said he would do his utmost to avoid chaos in Iraq.

"Our course over the next year or two will determine whether the American and Iraqi people and the next president of the US will face a slowly but steadily improving situation in Iraq or... the very real risk and possible reality of a regional conflagration," he said.

Mr Gates said the president would have the last say on any changes in approach, but he would speak his mind to both Mr Bush and Congress.