Obama appoints new Middle East coordinator

US President Barack Obama has appointed a new coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf, the White House announced Saturday.

Philip Gordon, a veteran foreign policy expert, will take up his post on March 11.

National Security Adviser Tom Donilon praised Gordon as a "key member" of Obama's foreign policy team, who was the "perfect person" to coordinate US policy.

"His work on international security, international economics and European and Middle Eastern Affairs make him the perfect person to coordinate our policy in this time of great challenge and opportunity in the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf," Donilon said in a statement.

Gordon has served as assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs since May 2009, with responsibility for US policy in 50 countries, as well as NATO, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Before that, he was a foreign policy adviser to Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign.

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