John Kerry to be nominated as US secretary of state

President Barack Obama is to nominate John Kerry to be his next secretary of state, US media report.

John Kerry would replace Hillary Clinton at the head of the state department, the media quoted senior administration officials as saying.

John Kerry ran as Democratic presidential candidate in 2004 and is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

His nomination comes after the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, withdrew from consideration last week.

President Barack Obama is to nominate John Kerry to be his next secretary of state

Republicans had fiercely criticized her role in the aftermath of the deadly attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in September.

They had threatened to block her nomination despite the president’s strong defence of her actions.

John Kerry, 69, would be Barack Obama’s first cabinet nomination since he won a second term last month.

Analysts say John Kerry is unlikely to face opposition from Republicans.