No. 2 US diplomat William Burns to retire
Obama administration officials say the second-highest ranking American diplomat intends to retire this fall.
The officials said Friday that Deputy Secretary of State William Burns plans to step down in October, following a 32-year career in the foreign service that included stints as U.S. ambassador to Russia and Jordan, top Middle East hand and leader of a team that held secret talks with Iran.
Burns had several times delayed retirement at the request of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry. (AP)
