In a handout picture, U.S. diplomatic envoy Jeffrey Feltman speaks to the media in Lebanese, on March 7, 2009. U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated Jeffrey Feltman as the assistant secretary for Near Eastern Affairs of the State Department.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated Jeffrey Feltman as the assistant secretary for Near Eastern Affairs of the State Department.

    The president announced eight key administration posts. In a statement, Obama said he believes that they would "serve the American people well as we work to keep our nation safe at home and abroad."

    Feltman will replace David Welch to head the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, which deals with U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic relations with Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

    Regional policy issues that the bureau handles include Iraq, Middle East peace, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and political and economic reform.

    As a career diplomat of the U.S. Foreign Service since January 1986, Feltman has stationed in U.S. missions in Haiti, Hungary, Tunisia, Israel, Iraq and Lebanon. He can speak French, Arabic and Hungarian.

    The nomination needs to be confirmed in the Senate.