By Arun Kumar

Washington, Dec 4 (IANS) Hillary Clinton, who has been insisting amid unending speculation that she would not run for president again, is now saying that being secretary of state will be her last job in government.

"I think I'll serve as secretary of state as my last public position," Clinton said Friday at an event in Manama, Bahrain, CNN reported. "Then (I'll) probably go back to advocacy work, particularly on behalf of women and children, and particularly around the world."

At the event with local college students, she again said she will not launch a challenge to President Barack Obama in 2012, but the comments mark the first time she's elaborated on her plans for the future.

The former first lady and New York senator faced off with Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 before becoming his chief diplomat.

But even her direct comment about leaving public service did not end the guessing game with speculators hanging on to her use of "probably."