FILE PHOTO OF U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UN NEGROPONTE, 2003-10-15 (photo)

A October 15, 2003 file photo shows John Negroponte, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations at the United Nations in New York, October 15, 2003. Negroponte is emerging as the front-runner to be U.S. ambassador to Iraq as Washington seeks to quell an armed insurgency and hand sovereignty to Iraqis, diplomatic sources said on Monday. The position, to essentially replace Paul Bremer as the top U.S. official in Iraq, is of enormous sensitivity ahead of the planned June 30 handover of sovereignty to the Iraqis and the Nov. 2 U.S. presidential election. If chosen by U.S. President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Negroponte would have one of the hardest jobs in government: bringing calm to Iraq as U.S. forces face their fiercest fighting since toppling Saddam Hussein a year ago. REUTERS/Jeff Christensen JC