Riad Mansour, named as Palestinian observer to U.N.

A veteran diplomat, Riad
Mansour, has been appointed to head the Palestinian
observer mission at the U.N., the Palestinian Authority
announced Saturday.
Mansour will replace Nasser al-Kidwa, who is serving as
the Palestinian foreign minister. Mansour worked as
al-Kidwa's deputy at the Palestinian mission to the U.N.
for the past 15 years. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas
informed U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan of the
appointment, said a statement carried by the official news
agency, "Wafa."