Ambassador News

Washington - Republican Utah Rep Jason Chaffetz has been vocal with his criticism about the handling of Libyan consulate security, but he has also admitted that he voted to cut embassy funding.

Benghazi - Four Americans including the US Ambassador are reported dead in an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. The four were escaping the building that was under attack, when a rocket hit their car.

Tehran - Iran has made an unexpected call to reopen discussions with the West about its nuclear program. This follows several rounds of sanctions in the wake of aborted talks early in 2011.

Syrian tribal leader Ahmad Al-Shlash threatened U.S. ambassador Robert Stephen Ford, saying he will cook the ambassador and eat him "like American mutton" if the emissary enters a Syrian town, according to one translation.

Bruxelles - The Ambassador of Libya to the European Union and the Benelux countries has defected, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton announced tonight.

Popular Filipino actress and singer Lea Salonga has joined the United Nations as goodwill ambassador for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

Pretoria - South Africa has recalled its ambassador to Israel, Ishmael Coovadia, for consultations on the storming of a flotilla of ships on the way to Gaza on Monday.

Mexico - The political problems between Cuba and the United States will be resolved in 50 years when the island disappears under water because of climate change, said Carlos Pascual, the U.S. ambassador in Mexico City.

U.S. President Barack Obama plans to nominate David Huebner as U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, which would make him the third openly gay ambassador that the U.S. has employed.

The former Premier of Manitoba Gary Doer, who resigned this week, is now the newest Ambassador to the United States. Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed the New Democrat on Friday.