Ban Ki-moon gets 2nd term as UN chief

UNITED NATIONS: The 192-nation UN General Assembly unanimously approved a second five-year term for UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who analysts and diplomats see as a solid ally of Washington. The former South Korean foreign minister, who took over as UN secretary-general from his predecessor Kofi Annan in 2007, was re-elected to the world body’s top job by acclamation, effective next January 1. Ban, 67, was unopposed, making his re-election a virtual certainty after the Security Council last week recommended he continue at the helm of the United Nations. He thanked the UN member states for the ”great honor” they bestowed on him but later told reporters he had much unfinished business. ”Clearly we have far to go,” Ban said. ”Too many people lack basic human rights. Too many people are hungry. Too many children die needlessly every day.” ”Seldom has the United Nations been more relevant and never has it been more necessary,” he added. US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice welcomed Ban’s re-election and praised his performance in ”one of the toughest jobs in the world.” All the regional groups of UN member states backed Ban, including the Latin American and Caribbean group, the last to officially endorse his re-election. (Reuters)