The Senate is making progress clearing a logjam of nominees for US ambassadorships.
Lawmakers approved by voice vote new US envoys to East Timor, Rwanda, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam yesterday.
They were expected to confirm five more ambassadors today, to Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Paraguay and the joint post of Senegal and Guinea-Bissau.
Some 150 of President Barack Obama's nominees are still waiting their turn. They include 25 more potential ambassadors and other senior State Department appointments.
The situation has eased significantly since this summer, when more than 50 diplomatic nominees were still stuck in limbo because of procedural fights between Senate Democrats and Republicans.
