Bush picks new ambassador to Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) President George W Bush has nominated William Wood to be ambassador to Afghanistan, the latest in a shuffle of top diplomats in a region the United States considers central to fighting terrorism.

Wood, currently ambassador to Colombia, was chosen to replace Ronald Neumann in Afghanistan where US forces are fighting the Taliban and hunting for al Qaeda leaders.

It was unclear why Neumann was leaving the post he has held since July 2005.

The White House had previously announced that Bush would nominate Zalmay Khalilzad, currently US ambassador to Iraq, to be the US ambassador to the United Nations to replace John Bolton, who stepped down after Democrats made clear they would block his renomination.

Ryan Crocker, US ambassador to Pakistan, has been picked to replace Khalilzad in Iraq. All the positions must be confirmed by the Senate.

REUTERS PKS BST0528