WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will testify before a Senate panel next Wednesday on the deadly Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and the committee will hold a confirmation hearing on her successor the following day.

Senate aides said the Foreign Relations Committee notified senators Wednesday night that Clinton would testify Jan. 23. The panel will hold a hearing on the nomination of Sen. John Kerry to be the next secretary of state on Jan. 24.

Kerry is the chairman of the committee and will retain that title until his widely expected Senate confirmation. However, his likely successor, Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, will preside over both hearings.

Clinton also is scheduled to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

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