Obama names Clinton, Gates to key posts

US President-elect Barack Obama nominated Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State in a widely expected move.

WASHINGTON: US President-elect Barack Obama Monday nominated Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State and announced he would keep Defence Secretary Robert Gates in his current job in widely expected moves to set up his national security team.

Clinton, 61, his former rival in Democratic presidential nomination, will leave her job as the senator from New York if confirmed to become the nation's next top diplomat.

The re-appointment of Gates, 65, is designed to ensure a smooth transition takes place as the US fights two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gates became the head of the Pentagon under President George W. Bush in December 2006.

Obama also named former Marine General James Jones to serve as national security advisor.