UN assembly to give Ban new term as leader

UN assembly to give Ban new term as leader:traight to the faults of Arab leaders, faced with protests, but criticized himself some human rights groups, former South Korean foreign minister was determined to win re-election in a few months.

Ban, 67, announced his candidacy two weeks ago, and received formal support from the UN Security Council on Friday. With no opponent to make the contest, the 192-member General Assembly will confirm the new date on the basis of consensus. 

"There was never any doubt," said one UN ambassador said. ". It may not be everyone's favorite, but no one has any reason to stop it, "Ban said climate change - the theme of the United Nations, fought in the first five years - is its main tasks. He called the fight against global warming" top priority "for humanity. 

UN chief also vowed to keep speaking for the protesters took to the long-ruling leaders in the Arab world. 

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is currently refusing to take calls from Ban, the UN spokesman said. Ban also had a telephone confrontation with Muammar Qaddafi, Libya and other regional leaders in recent months. 

Group on the protection of human rights, nevertheless attacked ban without raising detained Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu met with President Hu Jintao in November last year. 

Ban, a career diplomat, was appointed by UN Secretary General in 2007, succeeding Kofi Annan, calling himself "Harmoniser" and "build bridges". 

But defenders say that he is too deferential to China and the four other permanent Security Council members - Russia, the United States, Britain and France - which could be vetoed his reappointment. 

"Now that he no longer has the burden of seeking re-election, we hope that he will be freer to stand up for human rights around the world," said Human Rights Watch UN director Philip Bolopion. 

Despite the criticism though, Pan irritates Russia and China with their strongest line in Libya, Syria and the rebellion in Yemen. 

Sri Lanka was outraged by his naming of an independent commission to examine the alleged crimes when the government suppressed the revolt of the separatist Tamil decades in 2009. 

Some UN officials say privately that they expect the secretary-general to be more open to a man in his second term. 

Ban, who was foreign minister of South Korea from 2004 to 2007, is the eighth UN Secretary-General with a body formed after World War II.