WASHINGTON: The Obama administration has named a senior official to head a new office to oversee US aid to Arab nations going through democratic transitions after popular uprisings had toppled their longtime autocratic leaders.
The State Department announced Wednesday that William B. Taylor, a veteran diplomatic troubleshooter who previously organized US and international assistance to post-Taliban Afghanistan, has been named special coordinator for Middle East transitions. Taylor, who was most recently vice president for conflict management at the US Institute of Peace, will focus primarily on Egypt, Tunisia and Libya.
His office will coordinate US development and other civilian aid to those countries.
