[JURIST] A Senate Foreign Relations Committee [official website] vote on whether to confirm the nomination of John Bolton [official profile] as permanent US ambassador to the United Nations [official website] was postponed Thursday after Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) [official website] called for more information from Bolton. Senate Committee chairman Richard Lugar (R-IN) [official website] has not said when a rescheduled vote will take place. Democrats have criticized [JURIST report] Bolton, traditionaly a strong UN critic, for his reluctance and perhaps inability to work amicably with UN officials to push institutional reform. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) [official website] warned of a possible Democratic filibuster of the nomination in the Senate and has expressed his view [JURIST report] that Bolton lacks credibility [JURIST report] to serve as the US ambassador. Republicans remain optimistic that Bolton will be confirmed.

To avoid initial opposition in the Senate [JURIST report], President Bush gave Bolton the job [JURIST report] on an interim basis last year through a recess appointment [Slate backgrounder] that expires when the new congressional session begins in January. The confirmation delay comes in the midst of several UN crises, including the aftermath of the Middle East conflict [JURIST news archive] and possible sanctions against Iran [JURIST news archive] for its nuclear program, both issues on which Bolton has been active as a vocal proponent of administration policy. AP has more.