Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday defended US envoy to the United Nations Susan Rice from a storm of Republican criticism, saying she had been a "stalwart colleague" and helped shape important policies.
"Let me repeat what I have said many times... Susan Rice has done a great job as our UN ambassador," she told reporters during a visit to Ireland.
Rice is one of the front-runners to succeed Hillary when she steps down early next year, but has been accused by Republicans of trying to mislead the American public over the September attack on the US mission in Benghazi which killed US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and three other Americans.
Rice said on September 16 that the attack was a "spontaneous" reaction to an anti-Muslim video, using CIA talking points she now admits were wrong. Extremists linked to al-Qaeda are now blamed for the attack.
Hillary said the decision on her replacement was up to President Barack Obama, and that she would "support whatever he decides".