U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appointed on Thursday retired diplomat Timothy Carney to lead a new American effort to promote economic and political stability in Iraq.

Carney will be the Coordinator for Iraq Transitional Assistance, Rice said, noting

"Our military operations must be fully supported and integrated with our civilian and diplomatic efforts across the entire U.S. Government to help Iraqis clear, hold and build throughout all of Iraq."

Carney was U.S. ambassador to Haiti and Sudan between 1995 and 1999. He served briefly with the U.S. occupation authority in Iraq immediately after the U.S.-led invasion of the Arab country in March 2003.

The latest appointment of the veteran diplomat was made after U. S. President George W. Bush announced a new plan for stabilizing Iraq on Wednesday night.

Source: Xinhua