This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/5399756.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| S Korean cements lead in UN race | S Korean cements lead in UN race |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| South Korea's foreign minister has won the support of the Security Council's five permanent members in an informal vote on the next UN secretary general. | South Korea's foreign minister has won the support of the Security Council's five permanent members in an informal vote on the next UN secretary general. |
| Ban Ki-moon was the only one of six candidates to escape a veto in the informal ballot. | Ban Ki-moon was the only one of six candidates to escape a veto in the informal ballot. |
| The poll is non-binding but, barring a major surprise, correspondents say Mr Ban looks set to take the top role. | The poll is non-binding but, barring a major surprise, correspondents say Mr Ban looks set to take the top role. |
| The formal vote will take place on Monday. Kofi Annan's 10-year term in office ends on 31 December. | The formal vote will take place on Monday. Kofi Annan's 10-year term in office ends on 31 December. |
| The Security Council's recommendation will then be passed on to the General Assembly for endorsement. | The Security Council's recommendation will then be passed on to the General Assembly for endorsement. |
| There is a broad consensus within the UN that an Asian should be the next secretary general, the first since the Burmese U Thant from 1961 to 1971. | There is a broad consensus within the UN that an Asian should be the next secretary general, the first since the Burmese U Thant from 1961 to 1971. |
| Administrator needed | Administrator needed |
| The 62-year-old Mr Ban has won all four of the UN Security Council's informal polls but this was the first time ballots distinguished between the five veto-wielding nations and the other 10 elected members. | The 62-year-old Mr Ban has won all four of the UN Security Council's informal polls but this was the first time ballots distinguished between the five veto-wielding nations and the other 10 elected members. |
| "It is quite clear that from today's straw poll that Minister Ban Ki-Moon is the candidate that the Security Council will recommend to the General Assembly," said Chinese ambassador Wang Guangya. | |
| India's Shashi Tharoor, who came second to the South Korean in all the polls, said he would not stand again. | India's Shashi Tharoor, who came second to the South Korean in all the polls, said he would not stand again. |
| "It is a great honour and a huge responsibility to be secretary-general, and I wish Mr Ban every success in that task," he said. | |
| The BBC's Chris Morris at the UN says some believe Mr Ban is too low-key and that the UN needs a higher-profile candidate to lead it through difficult times. | The BBC's Chris Morris at the UN says some believe Mr Ban is too low-key and that the UN needs a higher-profile candidate to lead it through difficult times. |
| However, the most powerful member states, particularly the US, want a world-class administrator rather than a globe-trotting diplomatic star - and in Mr Ban they may have found their man, he adds. | However, the most powerful member states, particularly the US, want a world-class administrator rather than a globe-trotting diplomatic star - and in Mr Ban they may have found their man, he adds. |