February 15, 2002
                                                                    Exhibit 99.6

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------


     The undersigned, Jeffrey B. Citrin, hereby constitutes and appoints Thomas
J. Plotz, of Shaw Pittman LLP, Washington, D.C., with full power of
substitution, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all reports, documents and certificates to be
delivered or filed with respect to the ownership of the undersigned of shares of
the capital stock of First Union Real Estate Equity and Mortgage Investments, a
business trust organized under the laws of the State of Ohio, including but not
limited to, any Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G and any amendment thereto to be
filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and to file any
such other reports, documents and certificates with respect thereto with any
agencies and instrumentalities and other persons with which such other reports,
documents or certificates are required to be filed or delivered; and the
undersigned hereby grants unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and ever act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent, or other substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done.



                                   /s/  Jeffrey B. Citrin
                                   -------------------------------------
                                     Jeffrey B. Citrin