"Head teachers are very upset about the marking, " he said.

BBC: Head teachers complain of 'erratic' Sats marking

His appointment in 2006 to head a department staffed by trained diplomats upset many who had come to expect they would be led by one of their own.

ECONOMIST: Vatileaks

Wines of South Africa head Sue Birch told the BBC she was "upset" by the report, saying it lacked balance.

BBC: South Africa wine grown by 'abused' workers

The absence of a peace process also means the administration can no longer head off actions by pro-Israeli congressmen by arguing that they could upset the talks.

ECONOMIST: Changing camels in mid-dune