Sebelius 'to take US health post'

Ms Sebelius' name had been floated for several Cabinet posts

US President Barack Obama has chosen Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to be his Secretary of Health and Human Services, White House officials say.

Reports said she had accepted and a formal announcement would be on Monday.

Ms Sebelius had earlier been tipped for several cabinet posts, but had said she wanted to focus on her work in Kansas.

She replaces Mr Obama's first choice as health secretary, former Senator Tom Daschle, who withdrew after questions were asked about his personal taxes.

It emerged in January that Mr Daschle had failed to pay some $130,000 (£90,000) in taxes.

Mr Obama later accepted his nominee's withdrawal "with sadness and regret", acknowledging that he had "made a mistake" in his handling of Mr Daschle's case.

Early Obama backer

Mr Obama has put affordable healthcare at the core of his domestic programme, and Ms Sebelius will focus in her new job on providing coverage for some 46 million uninsured Americans.

Healthcare reform cannot wait, it must not wait US President Barack Obama

Another key priority for Ms Sebelius, aged 60, will be tackling soaring healthcare costs.

In his first address to both houses of Congress earlier this week, President Obama said he planned to make "the largest investment ever in preventive care, because that is one of the best ways to keep our people healthy and our costs under control".

"The cost of our healthcare has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough... Healthcare reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year," the president said.

Ms Sebelius brings with her a background in health issues and the ability to reach across party lines, says the BBC's James Coomarasamy, in Washington.

Both will be important assets as she sets about tackling on of the most politically fraught issues in the US, he adds.

Ms Sebelius' appointment as health secretary has to be ratified by the US Senate.

The Kansas governor was an early supporter of Mr Obama during the marathon presidential election campaign, choosing to endorse him ahead of Hillary Clinton.

Ms Sebelius is currently serving her second term as governor in Kansas, and therefore cannot seek a third term in 2010.

Some Democrats had hoped that she would run for the Senate seat due to be vacated by Republican Sam Brownback next year.

Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932.