Barack Obama is expected to confirm he will keep Robert Gates in place as Defence Secretary when he becomes US President in January.

Mr Gates has served at the Pentagon for two years under George Bush.

Keeping him in place will be interpreted as an attempt at providing continuity at a time when thousands of US troops are serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mr Obama’s team can also present the move as an example of bipartisanship.

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Meanwhile, retired marine general James Jones, a former Nato Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, is expected to be confirmed as Mr Obama’s National Security Advisor.

The Politico news website predicted the appointments would be announced next week, when the new president could also confirm Hillary Clinton – his former rival for the Democratic nomination – as Secretary of State, the US equivalent of foreign secretary.

Some sources have suggested that neither Mr Gates nor Mr Jones had made final agreements on the positions.

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