Britain is to close nine embassies and high commissions as part of spending cuts at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that will see local staff take over some overseas jobs.

The programme is part of the department's efforts to meet savings targets agreed with the Treasury. Jack Straw, foreign secretary, said the restructuring would raise £6m a year towards an overall target of £86m. Among the countries affected are Paraguay, the Bahamas, Swaziland and East Timor. Other closures will be in Vanuatu, Tonga, Lesotho and Madagascar. A locally staffed post in Kiribati will also be shut. Honorary consuls are to be appointed in some of the areas affected by closures. Other diplomatic posts, including some in the US, Japan, France and Germany, are being handed over to local staff. Some consulates are also to be closed. Christopher Adams