UN to appoint former Moonie as head of World Food Programme

· Candidate was Unification Church figure for 20 years
· Bush administration is backing application

John Hooper in Rome and Ed Pilkington in New York
Tuesday November 7, 2006
The Guardian

Kofi Annan will this week put a former leading "Moonie" in charge of the UN's biggest humanitarian aid agency after vigorous lobbying by the Bush administration.

Josette Sheeran is to be appointed executive director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), according to diplomatic and UN sources.

Ms Sheeran, also known by her married name Shiner, was a member of the Rev Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church for more than 20 years. She became one of its most influential figures as managing editor of the Washington Times newspaper, which was founded by Mr Moon.