US vice president names replacement for indicted former adviser

US Vice President Dick Cheney on Monday announced replacement for his former chief of staff and national security adviser Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who was indicted last week in the CIA leak case.

Cheney acted quickly to named David Addington, his counsel, as the new chief of staff and John Hannah, the deputy national security adviser, as the new national security adviser.

Both positions had been filled by Libby, who resigned last Friday when he was indicted on perjury and other four charges after a 22-month investigation of the unmasking of an undercover CIA officer.

He is expected to make first court appearance Thursday.

Democrats criticized US President George W Bush for praising Libby rather than apologizing for his alleged crimes.

Senate Democrat leader Harry Reid also urged Bush's top adviser Karl Rove, another key figure in the case, to resign.

Even some Republicans said Bush needs to bring "new blood" into his problematic White House team.

However, White House Spokesman Scott McClellan on Monday refused to answer whether Rove should remain in his job or other questions about the case.

Rove has not been charged, but he continues to be investigated.

After Libby's indictment, US public opinion appears to be running against Bush.

A latest ABC News/Washington Post poll found almost half the Americans, 46 percent, said the level of ethics and honesty in the federal government has fallen with Bush as president.

That is almost three times the number who say ethics and honesty have risen under his reign.

Source: Xinhua