A Danish diplomat with experience in Afghanistan and Africa has been appointed as interim UN envoy for Lebanon, the UN said Wednesday, as the Middle East country is embroiled in crisis over the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

Pernille Dahler Kardel will replace Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands who held the post for two years, the UN spokesman said.

Kardel has served as deputy head of the UN mission to Afghanistan and was Denmark's ambassador to Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti as well as her country's representative to the African Union and other regional African groups.

Lebanon has been thrown into turmoil by Hariri's shock announcement om November 4 from Saudi Arabia that he was stepping down, as well as his prolonged absence afterwards.

After returning to Beirut, Hariri on Wednesday said he had been asked by President Michel Aoun to "wait before submitting" his resignation to allow for more consultations.

source: AFP