Washington  - Timothy Geithner was confirmed as US Treasury secretary in a vote Monday by the US Senate, putting in place one of President Barack Obama's key officials responsible for rescuing the US economy.

But the 60-34 Senate vote indicated serious reservations about Geithner's nomination, after it emerged earlier this month that he had failed to pay 34,000 dollars in taxes during a period when he worked for the International Monetary Fund.

Geithner will lead Obama's efforts to stabilize the US financial industry. (dpa)