Annan selects UN deputy

New York - Secretary General Kofi Annan has chosen Louise Frechette, the deputy defence minister of Canada, to fill the newly created post of deputy secretary general and is expected to announce the appointment on Monday. Frechette (51) is a career diplomat who served as Canadian ambassador to the UN from 1992 through 1995 before returning to Ottawa to take up her current position. As second in command to Annan, she will be responsible for much of the day-to-day supervision of the 9,000-member secretariat. She also will be acting head of the secretariat during Annan's absences.