[Sean]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4750357.stm

US President George W Bush has nominated Air Force General Michael Hayden as the new head of the CIA. Mr Bush described Gen Hayden, the former head of the National Security Agency (NSA), as "the right man to lead the CIA at a critical moment". Lawmakers have expressed concern at putting a military man in charge of a civilian agency, and civil rights groups are also raising objections. Porter Goss unexpectedly resigned as head of the CIA on Friday. His successor must face Senate confirmation hearings. The American Civil Liberties Union has urged the Senate to question Gen Hayden vigorously about the NSA's programme of domestic surveillance without warrants when he was in charge. "Hayden's approval of warrantless surveillance on Americans raises serious questions about whether the CIA would be further unleashed on the American public," ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero said in a statement.