UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Wednesday the designation of Stephanie Turco Williams of the United States as his acting special representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

Williams will act as special representative in Libya until the appointment of a successor for Ghassan Salame, who suddenly resigned for health reasons on March 2, said Guterres' press office.

The secretary-general is grateful to Salame for his accomplishments at the helm of UNSMIL, and his tireless efforts to bring peace and stability back to Libya, it said.

Williams brings more than 24 years of experience in government and international affairs. She has served as deputy special representative for Libya since 2018, said the press office. Prior to her appointment, she served as charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli.