Holder nomination held up in Senate Judiciary Committee

Jan 21, 2009, 20:10 GMT

Washington - Eric Holder's nomination as attorney general under President Barack Obama was delayed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday over lingering doubts among the committee's Republicans.

Republicans have said they are looking for follow-up information from Holder on the Obama administration's plans for detainees being held in the war on terrorism.

US military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were halted on Obama's first full day in office Wednesday, a first step by Obama towards closing the detention facility.

During his confirmation hearing last week, Holder faced questions over his role in the controversial pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich by former president Bill Clinton, during which Holder served as deputy attorney general.

A vote on Holder's confirmation had been planned in the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday, the first step towards a full confirmation by the Senate.

The committee vote will now likely take place next week. Despite the delay, Holder is likely to be approved.

'I think most all Republicans feel that all the appropriate questions ought to be asked, and you can do that without prejudging the final outcome' of the nomination, Mitch McConnell, leader of minority Republicans in the Senate, told reporters.

Mark Filip, the deputy head of the Justice Department in the administration of former president George W Bush, is serving as acting attorney general until Holder is confirmed.