Washington, Rabi'II 3, 1434, Feb 13, 2013, SPA - A U.S. Senate panel Tuesday approved Chuck Hagel as President Barack Obama's new secretary of defense, paving the way for a vote on his confirmation by the full Senate as soon as later this week. The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 14 to 11, with one senator voting "no instruction." The vote to approve the former Nebraska Republican senator's confirmation to succeed Leon Panetta as the chief of the Pentagon was along party lines. --SPA 11:50 LOCAL TIME 08:50 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1078045