U.S. envoy Mulford presents credentials

NEW DELHI, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- The new U.S. ambassador to India, David Campbell Mulford, presented his credentials Monday to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

An international banker, Mulford, who last served with Credit Suisse First Boston in London, succeeds Robert Blackwill. Mulford has also served as under secretary for international affairs for the Department of Treasury.

Mulford has taken charge at a time when the strategic partnership between New Delhi and Washington is gaining momentum and the two sides are working closely on several fronts, especially the war against international terrorism. However, a recent hitch in relations is a proposed U.S. ban on outsourcing government contracts to India, which is being viewed in the sub-continent as anti-trade.

The Press Trust of India reported that five other envoys too presented their credential to the president at a ceremony in the presidential house. They are Yasukuni Enoki of Japan, Karna Dhoj Adhikary of Nepal, Jon Westborg of Norway, Sverrir Haukur Gunnlaugsson of Iceland and Eduardo Ernesto Vilanova Molina of El Salvador.