WASHINGTON, July 11: President George Bush said on Tuesday the United States is looking to an Asian candidate to replace outgoing UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The comment appeared to be a departure from the view of UN Ambassador John Bolton, who has said that candidates should be considered irrespective of region.

Mr Bush spoke in an interview in the White House on Monday with reporters from Russia, Germany, Italy and Japan. The White House released a transcript of the session on Tuesday.

No Asian has served as secretary general in more than 30 years, and there is strong sentiment among some UN members that Mr Annan’s replacement should be from that continent.

“We’re really looking in the Far East right now to be the Secretary-General,” Mr Bush said, noting that tradition holds that secretaries general rotate by region.

At another point, however, he said the United States ‘will work closely with friends and allies to come up with the best candidate’.

Mr Bush said he would not oppose a candidate for secretary-general who is Muslim.

He was replying to a question about the possible candidacy of Jordan’s Prince Zeid al-Hussein, who is Muslim and his country’s UN ambassador.—AP