Ben Affleck Quashes Senate Bid Rumours

Hollywood star Ben Affleck has ended rumours he is planning to run for the US Senate, saying he will not stand for John Kerry's seat.

Speculation rose when the actor and director testified before Congress last week about atrocities in Congo.

The appearance at the House Armed Services Committee coincided with the news that Barack Obama had named Massachusetts Senator Mr Kerry as the frontrunner to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

This would have opened up a potential opportunity for Mr Affleck if Mr Kerry was confirmed.

In a CBS interview he refused to deny a potential run for office saying: "One never knows. I’m not one to get into conjecture."

But the Good Will Hunting actor has now quashed the speculation he had any plans to enter politics immediately in a post on his Facebook page.

He said: "I love Massachusetts and our political process, but I am not running for office.

"Right now it’s a privilege to spend my time working with Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), supporting our veterans, drawing attention to the great many who go hungry in the US every day and using filmmaking to entertain and foster discussion about issues like our relationship to Iran."

He added that Mr Kerry would make a "great Secretary of State".