NATO names Briton as new envoy to Afghanistan

BRUSSELS, 9th February 2011 - NATO named on Wednesday the British ambassador to Iran, Simon Gass, as the alliance’s new top civilian envoy in Afghanistan to help steer the handover of the security role to Afghan forces.

Gass will replace another Briton, Mark Sedwill, who has served as NATO’s senior civilian representative since February 2010, the 28-nation military organisation said in a statement.

He will officially take over at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in April.