WASHINGTON, January 18 , SPA -- President George W. Bush will nominatethe U.S. ambassador to Russia, William Burns, to take theState Department's third-highest job, senior U.S. officialstold The Associated Press on Friday. He would replace Undersecretary of State for PoliticalAffairs Nicholas Burns, whose resignation Secretary ofState Condoleezza Rice announced Friday. William Burns was previously the top U.S. diplomat for theMiddle East. The two men are not related. The officials who confirmed that William Burns would beappointed spoke on condition of anonymity because theformal announcement had not been made.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/518825