More Republicans troubled by Rice role on Benghazi

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Two more Republican senators expressed deep reservations on Wednesday about voting to confirm UN envoy Susan Rice as US secretary of state without more answers about her role in the Benghazi affair.

The embattled Ms Rice met for a second straight day with Republican senators to try to mollify conservatives threatening to block her confirmation if President Barack Obama nominates her to replace Hillary Clinton.

But Senator Susan Collins, a moderate from Maine, joined other Republicans who have sharply criticised Rice for portraying the Sept 11 attack on the US mission in Libya as stemming from a protest against an anti-Islam film. "I still have many questions that remain unanswered," said Ms Collins after her hour-long meeting with Rice.

"I continue to be troubled by the fact that the UN ambassador decided to play a political role at the height of a contentious presidential election campaign by agreeing to go on the Sunday shows to present the administration's position," she said.