Thai candidate for UN chief throws in the towel

BANGKOK, Oct 5 (Reuters) Thailand's candidate for head of the United Nations has withdrawn from the race after Security Council members made it clear South Korea's Ban Ki-moon would get the job, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said today.

''He said he would not continue to be in the race,'' Surayud told reporters after a brief meeting with Surakiart Sathirathai, a deputy prime minister in the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a September 19 military coup.

In an informal ballot on Monday, the 15 members of the Security Council gave the South Korean Foreign Minister 14 favourable votes and one abstention in the race to succeed Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose term expires on December 31.

The council is expected to hold a formal vote on October 9 and forward the winning candidate to the 192-member UN General Assembly for approval, which usually follows within a week.

REUTERS PB VC1605