US Senate to start Gates hearings in December-aide

WASHINGTON, Nov 9 (Reuters) Republican leaders today set quick Senate confirmation hearings for Robert Gates, President George W Bush's nominee as secretary of defense, hoping to get him confirmed by the end of the year.

''I would look right now tentatively for the confirmation hearings to begin the week of December 4,'' said an aide to Senate Majority leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican.

''It is our goal to get Gates confirmed before the end of the year, and we're hopeful, based on what we've heard from Democrats up to this point, that that will be able to transpire,'' said the aide, who asked not to be named.

Former CIA director Gates, 63, was nominated by Bush yesterday to replace outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, whose departure was announced after heavy Republican election losses fueled by anger at Bush's Iraq policies.

Hearings on the Gates nomination will be held by the Senate Armed Services Committee. If it votes favorably, his nomination would be sent to the Senate floor for a vote.

REUTERS DH BST0211