Washington: November 20, 2008 – IR Summary/World - There are many rumors and doubts about Obama’s Transition Team whether Hillary Clinton could get the place and could she be nominated as US Secretary of State, which hurdle seems to have been cleared by former US President Bill Clinton by clearing his position and sent a list to Obama of more than 200,000 donors to his foundation, and that is likely to clear the way for Hillary, even though Obama has not so far offered this job to her.

People close to the Clintons said he had agreed to the conditions sought by President-elect Barack Obama's team to eliminate potential conflicts of interest. Mr Clinton accepted restrictions on his business and philanthropic activities to remove any obstacle to his wife's nomination.

"I'll do whatever they want," Mr Clinton said in New York on Wednesday.

The discussions came as Mr Obama worked on the team he will bring to office in January. He will nominate Tom Daschle, the former Senate Democratic leader, as secretary of health and human services, his advisers said. Mr Daschle has accepted the offer, which will make him a point man for Mr Obama's ambitious plans to expand health-care coverage.

Washington continued to be gripped by the drama surrounding Senator Clinton's fate and the possibility that Mr Obama might bring his toughest rival for the Democratic presidential nomination into his cabinet.

Mr Obama's advisers said the talks had gone well but declined to confirm that an agreement to avoid conflicts had been reached, as the Clinton camp has indicated.

Even if the guidelines for Mr Clinton's activities are resolved, Mr Obama and Senator Clinton must still decide if they can put their bitter primary battle behind them. Both sides were engaged in a delicate public and private dance, manoeuvring for position and reputation in case the deal falls through.

The list of 200,000 or so donors comprises the supporters of the Clinton presidential library and foundation. It includes those who gave a few dollars as well as wealthy foreign leaders and business people who gave millions.

Mr Clinton may attempt to avoid publicly releasing the names of donors because many may have expected to remain confidential. The Clinton and Obama teams could seek donors' permission to reveal their names but that could be a lengthy process.

Senator Clinton travelled to Chicago last week to meet Mr Obama about the cabinet position. The process was complicated by concerns that the former president's business interests with foreign governments and companies could create conflicts for his wife if she were the top US diplomat.  More