Clinton role

US president-elect Barack Obama plans to nominate Hillary Clinton as secretary of state after the US Thanksgiving holiday next week, a new milestone for the former first lady and a convergence of two political forces who fought hard for the presidency.

One week after the former primary rivals met secretly to discuss the idea of Clinton becoming the nation’s top diplomat, an Obama adviser said that the two sides were moving quickly toward making it a reality, barring any unforeseen problems.

The senior adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Obama believes Clinton would bring instant stature and credibility to US diplomatic relations.