US News
Deputy national intelligence chief tipped for CIA top job
By DPA
May 6, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - General Michael V Haden, a former US Air Force officer with broad experience in spy agencies, is likely to be named the new head of the CIA, media reports Saturday quoted US administration officials as saying.

Hayden is the deputy to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte, a post created by US President George W Bush as part of reforms to US intelligence after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

CIA Director Porter Goss quit Friday after less than two years at the helm of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Hayden previously led the super-secretive US National Security Agency (NSA) until last year.

If nominated by Bush, he is likely to face questions about a once- secret surveillance programme that involved the NSA, the Washington Post and the New York Times reported.

Under the controversial programme, US authorities monitored communications between US residents and people abroad without seeking court approval. Bush has defended the programme as necessary to fight terrorism.