Irish born academic to be appointed US ambassador to the UN

US president Barack Obama plans to nominate Irish born academic and former White House aide Samantha Power as US ambassador to the United Nations.

Ms Power will replace Susan Rice , the White House said today.

The move comes as Mr Obama shifts his foreign policy team to include Ms Rice as his national security adviser amid the resignation of his current top security aide, Tom Donilon.

Ms Power’s background as an outspoken defender of human rights is likely to make her a strong voice in the administration for a stronger US role in protecting rights in such places as Syria, China and Sudan.