Britain appoints new ambassador to Libya

Dominic Asquith, a long-time diplomat, has been appointed as the new British ambassador to Libya, British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) announced on Thursday. Asquith will succeed John Jenkins, who will be transferring to another diplomatic service appointment, the office said. As a career diplomat, Asquith joined the FCO in 1983. He has served overseas as ambassador to Iraq between 2006 and 2007, and ambassador to Egypt since 2007, and worked throughout the Middle East, South America and the United States. On his new mission, Asquith has said: "I am very glad to be returning to Libya at such an important time. I look forward to working closely again with the new government as they address the challenges they face to deliver a better future for their people." British Foreign Secretary William Hague announced in July that Britain recognised the Libyan National Transitional Council as the "sole governmental authority" of the country.