Britain names Sawers as new espionage agency chief


Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain named high-profile ambassador John Sawers on Tuesday as the new head of its Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), also known as MI6, saying he was rejoining the espionage agency after years as a diplomat.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said Sawers -- Britain's ambassador to the United Nations -- would take up the post in November when incumbent John Scarlett is due to retire.

Sawers, who is in his early 50s, is a former ambassador to Egypt and political director of the Foreign Office (Ministry). He was a member of SIS early in his career and was now rejoining it, an official said.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he welcomed the apointment and looked forward to working with him.

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