Washington - A Senate committee voted Thursday to confirm Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, sending her nomination to the full chamber for final approval.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 16-1 to make Clinton the next top US diplomat. The vote in the full Senate could come before president-elect Barack Obama is sworn into office on Tuesday.

Obama tapped his formal rival for the Democratic presidential nomination to head foreign policy, bringing in a face familiar to the rest of the world and someone who has built strong foreign policy credentials during her time in the Senate.

During her confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Clinton vowed to employ "smart power" to pursue US objectives in the world like resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and curtailing Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Clinton said the United States must use its diplomatic, economic and military power to promote international security and tackle challenges abroad.

Republican Louisiana Senator David Vitter was the only vote against Clinton on the committee.

The Senate began conducting hearings on Monday to confirm Obama's cabinet nominees.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday was holding a hearing for Eric Holder, Obama's choice to become attorney general, the top US law enforcement officer. (dpa)