Casey confirmed as US army chief

Gen Casey has commanded US troops in Iraq since July 2004

Senators in the United States have approved the nomination of General George Casey as the country's next army chief of staff.

Lawmakers backed Gen Casey, who has commanded US forces in Iraq for more than two years, by 83 votes to 14.

But some key senators - both Republican and Democrat - voted against him for failing to stem the violence in Iraq.

Earlier, a senate panel backed John Negroponte, the outgoing intelligence chief, as deputy secretary of state.

Mr Negroponte, who has served as ambassador to Iraq and the United Nations, must now be confirmed by the full Senate.

'Accountable'

Gen Casey was given command of US forces in Iraq in July 2004, but replaced last month by Gen David Petraeus as part of President George W Bush's shake-up of his Iraq team.

Those opposing Gen Casey's nomination included two potential presidential hopefuls, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain.

Sen McCain said that as commander in the field, Gen Casey should be held accountable for the performance of US military forces in Iraq.

Nine other Republican senators opposed Gen Casey's nomination.

But, says the BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington, the majority argued that the problems in Iraq were the fault of policy makers, not military commanders.

On Wednesday the Senate approved Navy Vice Adm Michael McConnell as the new head of intelligence, to replace Mr Negroponte.

Mr Negroponte was named as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's deputy last month, filling a role left vacant since Robert Zoellick left the post last July.