South Korean informally chosen as next UN leader

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 2 (Reuters) South Korean's Foreign Minister, Ban Ki-Moon, won today's crucial informal poll for the next UN secretary-general, with no opposition from any of the five veto-bearing council members.

The 15 Security Council ambassadors conducted an unofficial vote on seven candidates vying for the job to replace Kofi Annan, who leaves office on December 31. It was the fourth informal poll and the first time ballots distinguished between the five veto-bearing nations and the other 10 elected members.

An official vote is expected to be held later in October, after which the winner's name goes to the 192-member General Assembly for approval.

Reuters SBA VP0230