Roberto Azevedo of Brazil on Tuesday vowed to revive the deadlocked World Trade Organization, as he was confirmed formally as the incoming leader of the 159-nation body which sets the rules for global commerce. "I have been working in and with this organisation continuously for the last 15 years," Azevedo, still officially Brazil's WTO ambassador, told a session of its ruling General Council which approved him as its next leader.

By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - Brazil's Roberto Azevedo has won the race to become the next head of the World Trade Organization, the first candidate from the BRICS club of emerging economies to take the job. The career trade diplomat now faces a huge challenge to reinvigorate the global body, which has failed to wrap up the Doha trade liberalization talks after years of stalemate and risks becoming irrelevant without a breakthrough.

GENEVA - The incoming head of the World Trade Organization says his first priority will be to try to rescue its credibility as a forum for trade negotiations. Brazilian Ambassador Roberto Azevedo told a packed room of reporters at Brazil's WTO mission Wednesday that "the negotiating pillar of the WTO is clearly stuck." At the WTO, diplomats and officials congratulated Azevedo on his selection as WTO director general for the next four years. Azevedo also said it is important to close "the gap" between the WTO's rules and how things really are between trading nations.

Roberto Azevedo of Brazil was named as the new head of the World Trade Organization on Wednesday, and vowed to battle economic protectionism and break the deadlock in talks aimed at liberalising global commerce. Career diplomat Azevedo, who currently represents Brazil at the WTO, was statesmanlike after defeating veteran Mexican trade negotiator Herminio Blanco in the final round of the contest which saw seven contenders stumble last month.