NATIONAL BRIEFING / WASHINGTON, D.C.

The Senate voted 73-23 to confirm career diplomat Christopher Hill as the next U.S. ambassador to Iraq despite fierce opposition from conservatives who complained about his record.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) had stalled the approval process for three weeks. Brownback accused Hill, the Bush administration’s chief negotiator with North Korea, of ignoring North Korean human rights abuses and agreeing to a flawed disarmament pact with the regime.

A small group of other Republicans also opposed Hill on those grounds, and because of his lack of experience in the Middle East and concern that he might have overstepped his authority in negotiating with the North Koreans. But a majority decided Hill’s confirmation should not be delayed any longer.