Ex-Clinton aide to become CIA chief

US President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to lead the CIA, which has been widely criticized for harsh interrogation of terrorism suspects, Democratic officials said on Monday.

The surprise pick of Panetta for Central Intelligence Agency director, which has not been announced, would be one of the last major nominations for the incoming Obama administration, which takes over from President George W. Bush on Jan 20.

Panetta has relatively little experience in national security matters, although he did participate in daily intelligence briefings with President Bill Clinton when he served as Clinton's chief of staff between 1994 and 1997.