Meanwhile, a source close to the process involving President-elect Barack Obama's selection of his team said Obama had "informally" offered the post of attorney-general to Washington lawyer Eric Holder, who had accepted, pending completion of the vetting process.

Holder, 57, would be the first black person to serve as the country's top legal official. The person spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday because no announcement had been made, though it could be made this week.

And as the president elect continued work to fill out his Cabinet, Democratic officials said former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle had accepted Obama's call to serve as secretary of health and human services. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the position had not been announced officially.

Daschle, a close adviser to Obama throughout the Illinois senator's White House campaign, recently wrote a book on his proposals to improve health care, and he is working with former Senate leaders on recommendations to improve the system. (AP)