Bush names ambassador to Afghanistan

WASHINGTON - US President George W Bush has nominated a career diplomat now serving in Iraq to be the new US ambassador to Afghanistan.

Ronald Neumann, once approved by the Senate, would replace Zalmay Khalilzad, whom Bush nominated last month to become US ambassador to Iraq.

Neumann currently serves as counselor for political and military affairs in Baghdad. Earlier in his career, he served as ambassador to Algeria and as chief of mission in Manama, Bahrain, the White House said.

- REUTERS