Bush picks new U.S. representative to African Union

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush has chosen John Simon, executive vice president of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, as the new U.S. representative to the African Union, the White House said on Thursday.

If Simon's nomination is approved by the Senate, he would replace Cindy Lou Courville.

The African Union has been trying to resolve Zimbabwe's political crisis, urging the negotiation of a power-sharing deal. Bush has said he was examining more U.S. sanctions related to Zimbabwe after Russia and China blocked a sanctions resolution at the United Nations.

Prior to OPIC, Simon was senior director for relief, stabilization, and development at the White House National Security Council.

(Reporting by Tabassum Zakaria; Editing by John O'Callaghan)