New York: President George W Bush has decided to appoint United States envoy to Pakistan Rayan Crocker as Ambassador to Iraq to replace Zalmay Khalilzad who is being moved to the United Nations, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced yesterday(Jan 8,2007).

The announcement, which was expected, comes just ahead of unveiling of new strategy on Iraq by Bush Wednesday.

It is widely believed that Bush will propose increasing troops by around 20,000 and enhanced economic aid for rebuilding Iraq to wean people away from militants and insurgent groups.