Bill Clinton to head tsunami relief

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- Secretary-General Kofi Annan has selected former U.S. President Bill Clinton to be the U.N. point man for tsunami reconstruction and ensure that the world doesn't forget the needs of the countries devastated by the December 26 disaster, a well-informed U.N. diplomat said Tuesday.

U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard refused to confirm the appointment but said "a statement will be released on the subject by my office in the next few hours."

Annan wants to appoint a special envoy not only to focus on the cleanup and reconstruction but to try to make progress on resolving conflicts with rebels in the two worst-hit countries -- Indonesia and Sri Lanka, Eckhard said.

The U.N. diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the appointment of Clinton as Annan's top envoy for the rehabilitation of tsunami-devastated countries would expand on the former president's current efforts to raise private money in the United States.

Soon after the disaster, U.S. President George W. Bush named Clinton and his father, President George H.W. Bush, to head a nationwide fund-raising effort to help countries devastated by the earthquake off Indonesia that triggered tsunamis across the Indian Ocean to Africa.

The deadly wall of water killed more than 157,000 people and displaced millions of others in 11 countries.

The two ex-presidents have been traveling throughout the country raising money and Bush said last week they hope to go to the tsunami-ravaged Indian Ocean region to illustrate the need for continued financial help from Americans to rebuild the area. He didn't say when.