Term of NATO chief extended by 1 year

BRUSSELS (AP) ? The NATO military alliance is extending the term in office of its current chief, allowing him to remain in office until the end of July 2014.

Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former Danish prime minister, took office in 2009. Since then, he has overseen operations in Afghanistan, and the air campaign over Libya. He will leave office shortly before the conclusion of NATO's combat operations in Afghanistan, to at the end of 2014.

"I am honored by the trust and support the allied governments have shown me," Fogh Rasmussen said in a brief appearance Wednesday.

Ambassadors from the 28 NATO countries took the decision to extend his term Wednesday. NATO chiefs are appointed for four years, but the term is customarily extended by a year.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-10-03-EU-NATO-Chief/id-373f173db0c14c669f039b10fc1c3503

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