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The Senate on Wednesday confirmed to Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state, in a day that President Barack Obama has mobilized a team of experienced advisers and contacted world leaders.


The Senate approved the confirmation by 94 votes in favor and two against. Only Republican senators opposed VITTI David and Jim DeMint.


Republican John Cornyn on Tuesday blocked the confirmation of Clinton, which was postponed to Wednesday.


Both Republicans and Democrats said it was necessary to confirm quickly so that Obama can begin to tackle the biggest challenges in foreign policy, which include the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the increase in violence in the Middle East and the threat that Iran could be developing nuclear weapons.


"It is essential that you give the president the tools and resources needed to implement change, and that begins with the placement of their national security team as soon as possible," said Senator John Kerry, who chairs the Commission Foreign Office.


The rival in the presidential contest to Obama, Republican Senator John McCain, was among those who spoke in favor of Hillary Clinton.


"This nation has come together in a way that had not done for some time," said McCain, who came to the upper chamber for the first time since the inauguration ceremony of Obama.


Voters "want us to work together and we get to work," added the senator.


While the Senate debated the confirmations of candidates to fill the cabinet secretaries Obama, he lost no time in his first day at work and phoned Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Abdullah II Jordan and the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas.


The government also planned to appoint the former Senate Democratic Leader George J. Mitchell as Clinton's special envoy to the Middle East.


Dennis Ross, a seasoned U.S. negotiator, is likely to be an advisor to Clinton on issues of that region, according to officials who spoke on condition of remaining anonymous because they are not allowed to testify in public about the measure.


67to was sworn in as secretary of state in his office building in the Russell Senate office. In the private ceremony were her husband, former President Bill Clinton and her staff in the upper house. According to his office, swearing in the Bible used that belonged to his father.


To assume the post, sent his resignation as senator in two letters, one addressed to the Vice President Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate, and one for New York Governor David Paterson.


Clinton plans to appear at the State Department on Thursday, where he should talk with employees in the main lobby that morning, a traditional meeting that usually the secretaries of State in its first day of work.


The former first lady received an overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress, despite the doubts of some Republicans that the activities of charitable fundraising by her husband could mean a conflict of interest.


After voting to confirm Clinton, the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate supported the appointment of Susan Rice to become the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a position that Obama raised to cabinet level.


Meanwhile, the Senate discussed other cabinet appointments of the new president.


Timothy Geithner, nominated to head the Treasury Department, apologized before the Finance Committee and said it was delayed desprolijo having to pay $ 34,000 in taxes on Social Security and Medicare medical service at the beginning of the decade, when he worked for the International Monetary Fund. The Committee planned to vote on his nomination on Thursday.

The Judiciary Committee took at least a week the appointment of Eric Holder as the first African American to hold the portfolio of Secretary for Justice, because the Republicans demanded more time to question about the harsh interrogations, trials of Guantanamo and other issues.