Ban set to announce run for new UN term

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UNITED NATIONS: UN leader Ban Ki-moon has called a press conference on Monday at which he is expected to announce he will seek a new five-year term as secretary general, diplomats said.

There is no declared rival to the 66-year-old former South Korean foreign minister who is certain to be given formal UN Security Council backing. A final vote could be held at the UN General Assembly before the end of the month, diplomats said.

Ban has visited the capitals of all five members of the five permanent Security Council members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- in recent months.

The five have the power to block his reappointment but no opposition to a new term from January has emerged. "It is 100 percent certain that he will get the post again," said one senior envoy.

While there has been criticism about Ban's reluctance to take up human rights in countries like China, Western nations have praised Ban's strong stance in recent months support of the Arab Spring uprisings.

Ban will meet with the Asian group of countries at the United Nations on Monday before holding a press conference. (AFP)