[JURIST] The Senate Foreign Relations Committee [official website] confirmation vote on the nomination of John Bolton [official profile] as US ambassador to the UN was delayed Wednesday after Democrats asked for more time to question State Department officials who have worked with Bolton. During a nomination hearing earlier this week, former State Department intelligence chief Carl Ford Jr. testified that Bolton was a "serial abuser" of lower-level officials who challenged his views. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that Bolton is an effective diplomat and has called for prompt Senate action on his nomination. Foreign Relations Committee Democrats are hoping to persuade moderate Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee to vote against the nomination, tying the committee's vote and blocking a recommendation to the Senate to approve Bolton as the new UN ambassador. AP has more.

Previously on JURIST's Paper Chase...

• Bolton UN nomination expected to pass in committee
• UPDATE ~ Confirmation hearings begin for Bush UN nominee
• Bolton faces Senate confirmation hearing for UN appointment
• Ex-diplomats urge Senate to reject Bolton for UN
• Bolton could face rocky confirmation road to UN post
• BREAKING NEWS ~ Bush to name anti-ICC hardliner Bolton as UN ambassador