Susan Rice, 48, the US ambassador to the United Nations, has withdrawn her name for consideration for the position of US secretary of state to become yet another indirect victim of the September 11 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi that killed former US ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.
Rice, 48, has been the US Permanent Representative to the UN since 2009. Her decision to withdraw her name for consideration of becoming America's top diplomat replacing current Hillary Clinton who will step down from her post in January, is seen as having dealt a political blow to President Barack Obama.
Citing "lengthy and disruptive" process, for her decision, Rice, who is very close to the US President pulled out of the running to avoid a revival of the bitter row over the death of America's ambassador to Libya.
The envoy had been the target of Republican attacks on the administration's handling of the raid on the US consulate in Benghazi.
"Those of you who know me know that I'm a fighter, but not at the cost of what's right for our country," Rice wrote on Twitter Thursday.
In her letter to the US President, Rice said: "If nominated, I am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities".
Rice, who seems to have become "a huge political liability for the Obama administration" said she was saddened by the partisan politics surrounding her prospects.
Meanwhile, reacting to Rice's decision, President Obama said in a statement: "Today, I spoke to Ambassador Susan Rice, and accepted her decision to remove her name from consideration for Secretary of State. For two decades, Susan has proven to be an extraordinarily capable, patriotic, and passionate public servant."
He went on to say that Rice's decision to withdraw her name had reflected her strength of character and an ability to rise above politics.
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