Washington  - US secretary of state-designate Hillary Clinton said Tuesday the incoming Obama administration will employ "smart power" to pursue US objectives in the world like resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and curtailing Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during her confirmation hearing, Clinton said the United States must use its diplomatic, economic and military power to promote international security and tackle challenges abroad.

Washington  - President George W Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Tuesday met for a final time before the US leader leaves office, vowing continued cooperation on combatting drug trafficking and promoting trade.

Bush said after the meeting that Calderon understands the importance of the war on drugs to both countries. "He will not allow his country or parts of his country to be taken over by narco- traffickers. And that the United States of America wants to share and help deal with the issue on both sides of the border," Bush said.

Riga  - The rush hour trend in the Latvian capital Riga was reversed Tuesday as thousands gathered in the central Dome Square at 5:30 pm (1530 GMT) to call for the dissolution of parliament and fresh elections.

The demonstration, backed by around 20 civil groups and opposition parties, was the idea of Aigars Stokenbergs and Artis Pabriks, former government ministers and founders of the a new opposition party called the Union for Different Politics.

Washington  - US secretary of state-designate Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that the Obama administration will put "every effort" forward to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Speaking before a Senate panel during her confirmation hearing, Clinton said she and president-elect Barack Obama are "deeply sympathetic to Israel's desire to defend itself" against rocket attacks by Hamas.

Washington - No US president in recent memory has entered office facing such huge crises or such enormous expectations as Barack Obama.

The Democratic president-elect is to be inaugurated January 20 as the country's 44th president, elected with a strong 53 per cent majority by voters disillusioned with eight years of Republican George W Bush.

Washington - Democratic leaders in the US Senate have accepted Roland Burris as the successor to president-elect Barack Obama, ending a two-week stalemate over the controversial appointment.

Burris was expected to be sworn in later this week after he was turned back when Congress began its new session on Tuesday, CNN reported. The Democrats had said they would prevent Burris from taking his seat because he was appointed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Blagojevich was arrested December 9 on corruption charges, including attempting to solicit bribes from potential candidates to succeed Obama. He has refused to resign and held onto his legal authority to fill the seat vacated by Obama after he won the presidential election.