NEW DELHI, April 28: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who retires next year, said on Thursday the next chief of the world body should come from Asia. The last UN Secretary General from Asia was U Thant who hailed from Myanmar — then known as Burma — and served as secretary general from 1961 to 1971.

“The secretary-general is elected on a roational basis and next time it is Asia’s turn,” said Annan, who is from Ghana and whose stint as secretary general concludes at the end of 2006.

“I think a candidate has emerged from Thailand,” Annan added.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai has declared his candidacy and has the backing of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Traditionally, the UN’s top job rotates every 10 years by region.

Africa should have in theory handed over the post to Asia on January 1, 2002. But Annan was chosen for a second term in 2001, partly because Asia had difficulty agreeing on a candidate, giving Africa 15 years at the UN helm.—AFP