Senior US diplomat named as Annan's next envoy for Western Sahara

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has decided to appoint a senior American diplomat as his chief envoy to Western Sahara, a UN spokesman announced today in New York.

Ambassador William Lacy Swing will succeed William Eagleton as the Secretary-General's Special Representative for the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) effective 1 December.

"The Secretary-General expresses his deep appreciation for Mr. Eagleton's contribution to the efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement in Western Sahara and wishes him well in his future endeavours," spokesman Manoel Almeida said.

Ambassador Swing has served in various posts in several African countries for the United States Government, most recently as the US representative to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.