Derek Plumbly Appointed U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has appointed veteran British diplomat Derek Plumbly as U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, the world body announced Friday.

Plumbly will take over as Ban's special coordinator from another British official, Michael Williams, who had served in Lebanon from August 2008 until September 2011.

Plumbly has been a Middle East specialist during his 35 years in the British diplomatic service, including as ambassador to Saudi Arabia between 2000 and 2003 and Egypt between 2003 and 2007.

The post was set up after the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah to represent the U.N. on all political and coordination aspects in the country. It replaced an earlier post coordinating U.N. activities in south Lebanon and international efforts to maintain peace and security between the Jewish state and Lebanon.