Hillary Clinton won't run for U.S. president

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday she will not run for president and that her current position will be her last in public office.

Clinton spoke of her plans toan interviewer in the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain, where she is on the last of a four-day visit to Central Asia.

She alsoappeared to rule out taking any other public role, saying that she expects to return to private life as an advocate for women and children around the globe.

She said she has enjoyed an interesting and rewarding public career and will be ready to get back to the advocacy work she did as a young lawyer.

Some had speculated she might succeed Robert Gates after his expected retirement next year as secretary of defence.