Canadian Named to New No. 2 Post

Louise Frechette of Canada was named deputy secretary-general of the United Nations. It is the first time the world body has had such a position in its 52-year history. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who had let it be known that he sought a woman for the job, nevertheless told a news conference: “I was looking for the best person to take the job, and it happens to be a woman.” Annan worked closely with Frechette, 51, when she served as Canada’s U.N. ambassador from 1992 to 1994 and he was heading U.N. peacekeeping operations. She is now Canada’s deputy defense minister and is expected to begin her U.N. post in the next few weeks.