UN leader race begins

The race to fill the shoes of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is gaining pace amid growing consensus that an Asian should take over when he stands down next year.

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Sri Lanka's ex-UN disarmament expert Jayantha Dhanapala have declared their candidacies and several other Asians may also run.

Permanent council members Russia and China have backed an Asian bid, as has the African group of nations. Russia is expected to oppose an eastern European bid.