Obama bypasses Congress, appoints six key officials

Washington, Dec. 30 (ANI): US President Barack Obama has bypassed Congress, and made six key appointments, including that of James Cole as Deputy Attorney General and Robert Ford as the country's new ambassador to Syria.

According to the Washington Post, Ford is the first U.S. ambassador to Syria since 2005.

Because he was appointed while the Senate is in recess, Ford, a career diplomat, will not need Senate confirmation. But he can serve only until the end of the next session of Congress, which will likely be in December 2011.

Frank Ricciardonehas been appointed as ambassador to Turkey and Norman L. Eisen, a Washington lawyer who served as ethics czar in the Obama White House, will go to the Czech Republic.

Career diplomat Matthew Bryza will become ambassador to Azerbaijan. (ANI)