Bush nominates new attorney-general

Judge Mukasey, left, with Bush at
the White House on Monday [AFP]

Standing next to Mukasey in the Rose Garden, Bush went on to say: "He knows what it takes to fight this war effectively and he knows how to do it in a manner consistent with our laws and our constitution."

Michael Mukasey

- Worked in federal prosecutor's office in New York, including under Rudy Giuliani, the current Republican presidential candidate and the city's ex-mayor.

- Nominated to the federal bench in 1987 by Ronald Reagan, then US president.

- Presided over case in which Omar Abdel Rahman, known as the "blind sheikh", and a dozen others were linked to the 1993 bombing of the US World Trade Centre.

Sources: Reuters, The Washington Post, The New York Times

Bush urged the senate to confirm Mukasey quickly.

If Mukasey is approved, he will take charge of a justice department where morale is low following months of investigations into the firings of nine US attorneys and Gonzales' sworn testimony on the Bush administration's terrorist surveillance programme.

Democrats say the dismissals were politically motivated.

Gonzales left after both Democratic and Republican legislators challenged his truthfulness and ability to do his job as the head of US law enforcement.

Mukasey said: "My finest hope and prayer at this time is that if confirmed, I can give them the support and the leadership they deserve.

"I look forward to meeting with members of congress in the days ahead and, if confirmed, to working with congress to meeting our nation's challenges."