A row erupted in the US Senate as Democrats sought to delay the confirmation of President Donald Trump's pick for be the new head of the CIA.

Mr Trump had hoped the Senate would confirm at least seven of his major appointments on his first day in office, as it did for Mr Obama in 2009.

His picks of General James Mattis as Defence Secretary and General John Kelly to run the Homeland Security Department were confirmed. But Democrats balked at a quick confirmation for Mike Pompeo ,a congressman from Kansas, as the new head of the CIA.

Mr Pompeo has defended waterboarding and other "enhanced interrogation techniques" as being "within the law" and vehemently opposes Mr Obama's Iran nuclear deal and closing Guantanamo Bay.

Mr Trump said: "I call on members of the Senate to fulfil their constitutional obligation and swiftly confirm the remainder of my highly qualified cabinet nominees, so that we can get to work on behalf of the American people without further delay."