US Treasury Secretary agreed to stay

The US President asked Treasury Secretary John Snow to serve in his second term and Mr Snow agreed to stay in &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/war/2003/03/18/44603.html ' target=_blank>Bush administration despite speculation he was about to go, the White House reported Wednesday.

Snow walked to the &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/usa/2002/09/21/37017.html ' target=_blank>White House to have lunch with other members of the team, and met with Bush, said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

"The president is pleased Secretary Snow agreed to continue to serve," McClellan said.

Snow has been a loyal supporter of Bush's economic policies since joining the administration in February 2003 after Paul O'Neill's ouster, reports Chicago Sun Times.

The White House was under mounting pressure to clarify Snow's future and make decisions about the economic team before pushing ahead with a legislative agenda that includes overhauling the tax code and reforming Social Security.