WASHINGTON, Nov 3: President George Bush's re-election could herald a new look for his administration, with expectations that he will reshuffle his cabinet while maintaining enough continuity to tackle his priorities: Iraq and the war on terror.

The biggest change could be in his diplomatic team, with Secretary of State Colin Powell, 67, widely tipped to leave his post.

Mr Powell was known to have strong differences with Bush on key areas of foreign policy and was often seen as being cut out of some major decision making, having come off worse in a battle with the Pentagon for influence with the president's inner circle.

A possible successor to Mr Powell is John Danforth, the US ambassador to the United Nations, whose name has frequently been linked with the job, even though he was appointed to his current post just a few months ago.

Mr Danforth, 68, is a conservative known for his diplomatic skills. He would likely exert a moderate line, essential to smoothing over cracks in international partnerships because of the Iraq war.

Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, 72, is not expected to last through a second Bush administration, although observers say he may well remain at the Pentagon helm for another year in the hope of overseeing some amelioration of the situation in Iraq.

Bush backed Rumsfeld amid calls for the secretary's resignation in the wake of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal.

One possible replacement is Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice - a move that would make her the first woman to run the Pentagon. She has also been linked with the Secretary of State post.

Rice, 49, has indicated that she would like to give up her current job and has even hinted at leaving the administration entirely in favour of a return to university life. Her successor as national security adviser would likely be her deputy, Steve Hadley, 54, with the architect of the Iraq war, Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, another candidate.-AFP