WASHINGTON, March 4: US Secretary of State Colin Powell has announced that Charlotte Beers, who was hired by his department to improve America’s image in the Muslim world, is resigning.

Her resignation will become effective in about two weeks.

Although Ms Beers has come in for some harsh criticism from commentators and indicated at a Senate briefing last week that she found her job very daunting, Mr Powell said she was leaving for health reasons.

Ms Beers previously worked as an advertising executive, and joined the State Department in October 2001 as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, and headed the department’s campaign to staunch the rising tide of anti-American feelings in Muslim countries.

Patricia Harrison is expected to look after Ms Beers’ portfolio.