US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton (File Photo)

    BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Republicans and Democrats in U.S. Senate debated over whether to confirm John Bolton as the US ambassador to the United Nations, as a Senate panel began new hearings to keep him there Thursday, according to a Reuters report.

    Bolton testified before the Foreign Relations Committee in another bid for Senate confirmation, which would let him serve the rest of Bush's term.

    Committee Republicans said he had proven himself to be an effective diplomat and that his experience was needed amid the crisis in the Middle East.

    But Democrats who blocked the nomination last year said Bolton had bungled negotiations on a new U.N. human rights council, mismanaged U.N. reform efforts and alienated ambassadors from countries needed to meet challenges in the Middle East and Asia.

    "Before being nominated to this position in 2005 Mr Bolton's own statements evidenced great scepticism and disdain for the United Nations and multilateral diplomacy generally," said Christopher Dodd, a Democratic senator from Connecticut.

    "My objection isn't that he's a bully, but that he's been an ineffective bully," Dodd said.

    Bolton went to the UN with the goal of leading the reform of the organisation, but the effort has stalled in the face of opposition from developing countries, organised at the UN in a "Group of 77".

    He has been blamed by diplomats and analysts for making little effort to bridge the divide between the "G77" and the industrialised nations pursuing reform.

    Yesterday's hearing marked the first step in a second White House push to make Bolton's job permanent. The Foreign Relations Committee could vote on the nomination next week, although Democrats are expected to ask for a delay until September. Either way, a floor vote by the full Senate is not expected before September.

    Bolton has served in the post because Bush used a constitutional manoeuvre to appoint him to the job without the consent of the Senate, where he faced strong opposition. But Bolton's term is set to expire early next year.

    Bush could reappoint him, but he could not receive a salary and he would be viewed as being in a weakened position.