The full list of contributors to the former president's William J Clinton Foundation, made public after protracted negotiations with president-elect Barack Obama, highlights the delicate diplomatic path Hillary Clinton could face as Mr Obama's choice for US Secretary of State.

Taiwan's economic and cultural office was listed as donating between $1m and $5m. The Australian government's aid arm, AusAid, donated between $10m and $25m, as did the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The states of Kuwait, Qatar and Oman each provided more than $1m.

Mr Clinton's charitable ties to Middle Eastern countries generated speculation and controversy throughout the US campaign season, but Mrs Clinton's staff has long maintained that her ability to act as an honest broker in the Middle East is unaffected.