Louis Charbonneau leaves UN bureau for human rights job

United Nations bureau chief Louis Charbonneau (photo) has stepped down from Reuters to work with Human Rights Watch, the New York-based international NGO.

“It’s hard to say goodbye after more than 15 years with the Baron,” he told colleagues in a farewell message.

“I consider myself lucky to have worked with so many smart and talented journalists and editors over the years,” he wrote.

“I had a chance to pounce on some great stories and travel the world. I’ve written about everything from international finance and diplomacy to UFOs. Probably my single favorite assignment was the Iraq weapons inspections in 2002/03. I chased Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei across the planet - and am proud to say that I was one of the few journos who consistently reported that there were no WMD in Iraq. Covering Iran’s nuclear program also kept me very busy for over 13 years.”

Charbonneau’s foreign postings included Berlin, Vienna, Hong Kong and Prague.

Taking over the UN bureau is his colleague Michelle Nichols, “who I’m confident will continue Reuters’ long tradition of trouncing the opposition on the UN beat.” ■