Michael Hayden takes over as CIA chief

Washington, June 1 (UNI) Former National Security Agency Director Michael Hayden was sworn in as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) by US President George W Bush.

''I'm confident that under Mike's leadership, the CIA will help us stay ahead of America's enemies and win the war on terror,'' Mr Bush said yesterday at the CIA headquarters.

The President lauded Mr Hayden for his vast experience in the intelligence field and said the agency remains the principle provider of intelligence analysis to himself and other senior US national security officials.

The President expressed his appreciation for the work of CIA employees.

''You must penetrate closed societies and secretive organisations. You must master foreign languages and deal with unfamiliar cultures. Much of your work is secret, and American lives depend on that work remaining secret,'' he said.

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