Portugal's Antonio Guterres set to become next UN chief

Former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Guterres isset to become the next head of the United Nations after he emerged Wednesday as the favoured candidate among UN Security Councilmembers.

Guterres, also the former head of the UN refugee agency, had been inthe lead during five previous straw polls and got no vetoes in thelatest poll to find a replacement for South Korea's Ban Ki-moon.

He got 13 encouraging votes and two abstentions from the 15-member council, with none of the permanent members - Britain, China, France,Russia or the US - signalling their intention to cast a veto against Guterres in a formal vote.

- DPA