Washington - The US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, has abolished 23 of the 55 special envoy positions he inherited, the State Department has said. The posts abolished include special envoys, advisers or representatives for the Middle East, the Americas, Haiti, southern Europe, the Ethiopian-Eritrean dispute and the Great Lakes region of central Africa.
Perhaps the best known position abolished was that of special Middle East co-ordinator, previously held by Mr Dennis Ross. Mr Ross's staff and office have reverted to the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs in the mainstream State Department.
