Tharoor exits, Ban on course

INDIA'S NOMINEE Shashi Tharoor has bowed out of the UN secretary-general race after the South Korean front-runner Ban Ki-moon emerged a clear winner in Monday's straw poll, capturing 14 positive votes in the Security Council.

INDIA'S NOMINEE Shashi Tharoor has bowed out of the UN secretary-general race after the South Korean front-runner Ban Ki-moon emerged a clear winner in Monday's straw poll, capturing 14 positive votes in the Security Council.

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Ban was the only candidate to escape a negative vote from any council member, including five veto-wielding nations -- the US, Britain, France, Russia and China. The only member not to endorse his candidature was in the "no opinion" category.

Tharoor won 10 positive votes, but one of his three negative votes was from a veto power, which put an end to his chances. His tally included two "no opinion" votes.

Soon after the results, Tharoor wrote to Ban, congratulating him on the outcome. "It is clear that he (Ban) will be our next secretary-general. It's a great honour and a huge responsibility to be secretary-general and I wish Mr Ban every success in that task," he said.

An official poll is slated for October 9 in which the Council will formalise Ban's nomination, which will then be sent for General Assembly’s approval.