WASHINGTON, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee approved on Tuesday the nomination of Michael Hayden as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

    If confirmed by the whole Senate, Hayden, currently the deputy director of national intelligence, would replace Porter Goss as the CIA's new chief.

    Goss resigned early this month after less than two years in office, and within days, Bush nominated Hayden to head the CIA. Enditem