Obama names new envoy to India

Washington: US President Barack Obama has named a distinguished scholar and former Democratic congressman Timothy Roemer to be his envoy in India in place of Bush administration's nominee David Mulford, the White House announced.

Roemer served on the Blue Ribbon commission that investigated the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States and on a key committee to prevent nuclear proliferation.

Obama also named Patricia Butenis, a career diplomat who has previously been posted in Baghdad, Pakistan and New Delhi, as ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and longtime technology-focused lawyer John Roos as US ambassador to Japan.

Obama said the ambassadors will "strengthen our partnerships abroad at this critical time for our nation and the world."

The ambassadorial positions still need confirmation by the US Senate.

Roemer, 52, served in the US House of Representatives from 1991-2003 before becoming the president of the Centre for National Policy, a Washington, DC-based national security think tank. While in the House, Roemer served on the intelligence, education and workforce, and science committees.

He did not run for re-election in 2002. Roemer was a scholar at the Mercatus Centre at George Mason University. He was a partner at Johnston and Associates, a public and legislative affairs consultancy.