President Obama Pushes US Senate Over Scalia Seat

President Barack Obama has urged the US Senate to act after he nominates a replacement on the Supreme Court for Justice Antonin Scalia.

“I expect them to do their job”, he said, and consider the candidate as required by the US Constitution.

Scalia, a long-time conservative on the court, died on Saturday.

Within hours leaders of the Republican-controlled Senate had said they would delay confirming any nomination until a new president is in power next year.

The Constitution is clear about what happens now, said Mr Obama, and now would be a good time to rise above Washington “rancour” and “venom”.

The president vowed to announce his preferred candidate “in due course”.(BBC NEWS)