Report: U.S. diplomat Zardari's phone pal

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- An uproar has erupted over contacts between the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a leading Pakistani politician, The New York Times said.

The Times said U.S. State Department officials were floored when they learned that U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad had made repeated unauthorized phone calls to Asif Ali Zardari, who is considered a likely successor to outgoing Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

The United States has been officially neutral in the Musharraf succession and the Bush administration is reportedly concerned that Khalilzad's contacts with one of the players will give the appearance that Washington is playing favorites.

The Times said Khalilzad has been ordered to cease the contacts with Zardari, which had apparently involved several phone calls per week for the past month.