Obama names former Clinton adviser as chief of staff

U.S. president-elect Barack Obama made the first official appointment to his administration on Thursday, naming Rahm Emanuel as his White House chief of staff after days of speculation surrounding the Illinois representative's future.

"No one I know is better at getting things done," Obama said in a statement.

Emanuel, currently the No. 4 Democrat in the House of Representatives and formerly a senior advisor to then-president Bill Clinton,said hewill leavehis leadershipposition to assume the key administration role, whose occupant traditionallysets overall White House policy directions and controls daily access to the president.

He said heis humbled by the responsibility and will do everything he can to "help deliver the change America needs."

Theappointmentof Emanuel is expected torile some Republicans. During the Clinton administration,Emanuel gained the reputation of being afierce partisan attack dog, a reputation that may be at odds with Obama'smessage to create a more co-operative, less hostile climate in Washington.

Other observers say the political centrist could actually help prevent Democrats from lurching too far to the left of the political spectrum, efforts that may be welcomed by Republicans.

Obama is to hold his first news conference in Chicago on Friday after a meeting with his team of economic advisers, an aide said Thursday.

Rumours swirl over potentialKerry, Richardson roles

Other appointments, such as secretaries of defence andstate, andnational security adviser, could come soon as the new administrationprepares forimmediate challenges, including the global economic crisis and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Well, the top three priorities are appointments, appointments and appointments," Harrison Wellford, an adviser to Obama's transition team, told CBC News.

"Getting the key members of the team appointed in the first couple of weeks really sets the tone for everything else and the chief of staff in the White House is the most critical single appointment."

Obama could select his treasury secretary as early as Thursday, Reuters reported. Those being considered for the post includeTimothy Geithner, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, former treasury secretary Lawrence Summers, former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker and Laura Tyson, chair of Clinton's council of economic advisers.

Rumours have swirled that former presidential candidate Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts could be chosen as secretary of state. A Kerry spokesman denied reports he was actively seeking the position.

Other names for the post include New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, former UN ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Iraq war critic and outgoing Republican Senator Chuck Hagel and former Georgia Democratic senator Sam Nunn.

James Steinberg, who was Clinton's deputy national security adviser, is considered a top candidate for national security adviser. Susan Rice, Clinton's assistant secretary of state for African affairs, is also believed to be in the running for that job or another senior post.

There is some speculation that Obama will keep on current Defence Secretary Robert Gates, at least for a year. But he could be eventually replaced by former Clinton navy secretary Richard Danzig.

Bush pledges to help new administration 'hit the ground running'

U.S. President George W. Bush pledgedto conduct a smooth transition of power.

Bush said the peaceful transition of power is "one of the hallmarks of our democracy," but noted it will also be America's first wartime presidential transition in four decades.

"We're in a struggle against violent extremists determined to attack us, and they would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people," said Bush, who spoke outside the White House on Thursday.

"So, for the next 75 days, all of us must ensure that the next president and his team can hit the ground running."

Bush said his staff has provided intelligence briefings to Obama and that the Department of Justice has approved security clearances for members of his transition team.

He said in the coming weeks, his administration officials will brief Obama's team on anumber of issues, including the financial markets and the war in Iraq.

"I look forward to discussing those issues with the president-elect early next week," Bush said.