Barack Obama picks confidante Susan Rice as national security adviser

Washington, USA: President Barack Obama chose close confidante Susan Rice as his new national security adviser on Wednesday in a shakeup that increases the White House's control over foreign policy and brings a blunt-spoken voice to Obama's inner circle.

The hard-charging Rice, selected to replace low-key Tom Donilon in the post, is expected to play a high-profile role in defending Obama's foreign policy, particularly on the civil war in Syria. Obama has come under fire for his cautious approach in response to mounting evidence that President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons against rebels seeking to oust him.