Gates to stay on for an extra year
Updated on 08 January 2010
US defence secretary Robert Gates, a holdover from the Bush administration, will remain in his post for at least another year, his spokesman has confirmed.
Mr Gates, who has said he considers himself a Republican, told President Barack Obama in December that he would stay on at least to the end of 2010, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.
Mr Obama had asked Mr Gates to stay on shortly after he won the 2008 presidential election. The move was meant to maintain stability in a time of two wars and made good a promise by the president to include Republicans among his close advisers.
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