President Barack Obama has also named special envoys for the Middle East and the Afghanistan-Pakistan regions. And he promised US help in ensuring a lasting truce in Gaza.

Thursday saw a flurry of diplomatic activity in Obama's first week in office as he chose former senator George Mitchell as an envoy who will try to jump-start moribund Arab-Israeli peace talks.

Obama also tapped former UN ambassador Richard Holbrooke as a special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Both men are seasoned international trouble-shooters with records of success in helping settle long-running violent conflicts Mitchell in Northern Ireland and Holbrooke in the Balkans.

(CCTV January 23, 2009)