Condoleezza Rice, nominated by President George W. Bush as the new US secretary of state to replace outgoing Colin Powell, was sworn Wednesday after the Senate approved her nomination.

Rice, who used to be national security adviser to Bush, was sworn in by White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card in a short ceremony. She will start her new job as state secretary on Thursday.

Earlier, the Senate voted 85-13 to confirmed Rice's nomination, paving the way for her to be the first black woman secretary of state.