U.S. Attorney General Holder to stay until successor in place: Obama

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is stepping down but has agreed to stay on until a successor is named and confirmed. "With his typical dedication, Eric has agreed to stay on as attorney general until I nominate a successor and that successor is confirmed by the Senate," Obama told a news conference with Holder at his side. Holder is a close Obama ally and the first U.S. black chief prosecutor. (Reporting by Sandra Maler and Mohammad Zargham)