Obama names intelligence team

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Blair is expected to lead 16 intelligence agencies fighting at the front-line of the anti-terror war, and oversee hot spots across the world.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama (R) is joined by his  appointees for CIA Director, former Clinton administration  White House chief of staff Leon Panetta (C), and National  Intelligence Director, retired U.S. Navy Admiral Dennis Blair,  at a news conference at his transition office in Washington  January 9, 2009.REUTERS/Jim Young

Obama also says the two men will shoulder the responsibility of restoring the US record on human rights.

US President-elect Barack Obama said, "Under my administration the United States does not torture, we will abide by the Geneva Conventions, that we will uphold our highest values and ideals. And that is a clear charge that I have given to Admiral Blair and Leon Panetta."

As for Iran, Obama says he will comment further on its nuclear programme after his inauguration. The president-elect says he wants to use a practical and pragmatic approach to resolve the issue.