Top US Middle East diplomat to retire next week

Jeffrey Feltman, the top US diplomat for the Middle East, will retire next week, the State Department confirmed on Tuesday but did not address reports he is expected to take up a senior UN position.

Sources told Reuters on Monday that Feltman, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, was expected to replace Lynn Pascoe, another career US diplomat, as UN under-secretary-general for political affairs. (Reuters)