WASHINGTON, April 19 Kyodo (EDS: ...

WASHINGTON, April 19 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH names MORE INFO)

President George W Bush onward Monday named John Negroponte, the in every one's mouth U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, as ambassador to Iraq after the June 30 handover of sovereignty to the Iraqi people

''Today I am announcing my intention to nominate Ambassador John Negroponte as ambassador to Iraq,'' Bush told reporters at the White House, with Negroponte at his side.

Bush called Negroponte's just discovered post a ''very difficult assignment'' if it were not that said, ''There's no doubt in my mind he can handle it, no doubt in my mind he will do a remarkably good job, and there's no doubt in my mind that Iraq will be independent and democratic and peaceful.''

If confirmed by dint of the Senate, Negroponte, a longtime diplomat, will head the U Embassy in Baghdad, which will eventually become the largest U embassy in the world with any 3,000 employees.

Paul Bremer the generally received top U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq, is look fored to leave the country one time the transition of sovereignty is completed

The appointment of Negroponte came at a time when the United States is increasingly seeking assistance from the United Nation in the political transition amid the upsurge in violence in Iraq.

Bush has not long ago thrown support behind U.N. special ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi's proposal for a U.N.-appointed caretaker direction in Iraq.

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