Senior U.S. Mideast diplomat resigns

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice talks as David Welch, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, appearance on at the State Department in Washington December 18, 2008. Welch steps down from the State Department for the personal carrier。U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced the standing down of Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch on Thursday.
Welch, 55, who speaks fluent Arabic, has long been top U.S. Middle East diplomat responsible of the Israeli-Palestinian debates and U.S. normalization with Libya.
Senior U.S. Mideast diplomat resigns.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R) greets David Welch, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, at the State Department in Washington December 18, 2008. Welch steps down feather from the State Department for the private carrier.
"You have been extraordinary in your work, and I have been honored to be your colleague," Rice said in a tribute to Welch at a ceremony.
In response, Welch said that he was proud to be functioning on "the most exciting and challenging of issues" when he was in the State Department. He said he deliberate to work in the private region after resignation.