London - The announcement Thursday night of Briton Catherine Ashton as the first-ever European Union "foreign minister" drew mixed reactions from politicians and media outlets Friday.

"It will ensure, of course, that Britain's voice is very loud and clear," said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

But many media outlets were less full of praise.

The Sun tabloid said her appointment was a "consolation prize," given that the top job of president of the European Council had gone to Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy.

The Times of London wrote that the EU's 27 leaders had chosen to not give the post to Tony Blair because they were afraid of being upstaged by him. Brown himself said Friday that Blair had been Britain's first choice, but noted that Ashton had secured "the other important position."

The Times wrote: "A Belgian federalist and a former chairwoman of Hertfordshire Health Authority were ushered into Europes two grandest jobs last night as it stumbled on to the world stage." (dpa)