US Senate panel approves Brennan to be new CIA chief

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday gave its approval for John Brennan to be the next director of the CIA, setting up a full confirmation vote as early as this week.

Senators in a closed-door hearing voted 12-3 to approve Mr Brennan, putting him on track to be President Barack Obama's third major national security nominee to be confirmed, after Secretary of State John Kerry and Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel.

"No one is better prepared to be CIA director than Mr. Brennan," Senator Dianne Feinstein, who chairs the committee, said in a statement announcing the vote.

"The CIA needs a confirmed director, and Majority Leader (Harry) Reid is committed to moving quickly to schedule a vote." Mr Brennan has been subjected to a two-month confirmation process, with some US lawmakers insisting that questions remain about his nomination.