Obama defies critics over Rice appointment

President Barack Obama defied Republican critics and named outspoken diplomat Susan Rice as his national security adviser, despite accusations that she misled the nation in the aftermath of the deadly attack on Americans in Libya.

The appointment, along with the nomination of human rights advocate Samantha Power, who comes from Dublin, to replace Ms Rice as US ambassador to the United Nations, signals a shift by Mr Obama towards advisers who favour more robust American intervention overseas for humanitarian purposes.