Bush makes push for approval of UN envoy Bolton

Washington, Nov 10: President George W Bush will make a push to get confirmation for John Bolton as US ambassador to the United Nations before power in Congress shifts to the Democrats, the White House said Today.

The White House formally renewed its request that the Senate take up Bolton's nomination. But Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Democrats, said they continued to resist Bolton's confirmation and ''he is unlikely to get a vote any time soon.'' Bolton, the controversial former undersecretary of state, was blocked by the current, Republican-led Senate after Bush nominated him in 2005. But he has been serving as the UN envoy under a temporary 'recess appointment' that allows him to serve until the new Congress convenes in January.

However, his prospects in the newly elected Congress look even less promising. Voters in Tuesday's election handed dominance of the US House of Representatives to Democrats, and control of the Senate, which has the power to confirm or reject Bolton, is also expected to switch to Democrats pending the outcome of a race in Virginia.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush discussed a desire to get Bolton confirmed during a breakfast meeting with Republican congressional leaders at the White House today.

''This is something that we think is important, that he stay there,'' Snow told reporters.

The outgoing Congress is set to convene next week to wrap up its business before the end of the year. Bush also is seeking confirmation during that time for former CIA Director Robert Gates, his nominee to replace Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Sen Joseph Biden of Delaware, the expected chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a Democrat-led Senate, said yesterday he thought Bolton's nomination was ''going nowhere.'' ''I never saw a real enthusiasm on the Republican side to begin with. There's none on our side,'' Biden said.

But State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States needed someone like Bolton at the United Nations to deal with issues such as Sudan, North Korea and Iran.

He said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had spoken to congressional leaders from both parties and ''is ready to do whatever she needs to do in order to help John get confirmed.''

REUTERS