Updated on Saturday, November 22, 2008, 00:00 IST

New York, Nov 22: Hillary Clinton has decided to accept the post of Secretary of State in the incoming Obama administration, a media report said on Saturday, raising prospects of former Democratic rivals joining hands to guide the US foreign policy amid steep challenges at home and abroad.

Clinton came to her decision after additional discussions with President-elect Barack Obama about the nature of her role and his plans for foreign policy, one of her confidants was quoted as saying by 'New York Times'.

The former First Lady, who was defeated by Obama for the Democratic Presidential nomination in a neck-and-neck battle, has decided to give up her Senate seat and accept the powerful post of Secretary of State, the report said.

However, her spokesman, Philippe Reines, issued a statement yesterday cautioning that the nomination was not final. "We're still in discussions, which are very much on track," Reines said. "Any reports beyond that are premature."

Obama's office also told reporters earlier that the nomination is "on track", but this is the first word from the Clinton camp that she has decided, the paper noted.

"She's ready," the confidant told the paper, adding that Clinton was reassured after talking again with Obama because their first meeting in Chicago last week "was so general."

The purpose of the follow-up talk, he said, was not to extract particular concessions but "just getting comfortable" with the idea of working together.

A second Clinton associate, the Times said, confirmed that her camp believes they have a done deal.

Senior Obama advisers told the paper that the offer had not been formally accepted and no announcement would be made until after the US Thanksgiving Day which is on November 27. But they said they were convinced that the nascent alliance was ready to be sealed.

Bureau Report