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Sri Lanka eyes UN top job

COLOMBO, June 3 (AFP) Sri Lanka is keen to contest the United Nations secretary general's post and the government will launch a campaign shortly to drum up international backing, officials said Monday.

The Indian Ocean island is to put forward its Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando as a candidate to replace Secretary General Kofi Annan whose terms ends in December 2006.

"We believe it is going to be Asia's turn to elect a Secretary General and Sri Lanka should stand a very good chance," a government spokesman said.

He said the government would be sounding out neighbouring countries to secure their support for the Oxford-educated Fernando, a barrister by training.

The last and only Asian secretary general was U Thant of Burma, now Myanmar, who served from 1961 to 1971.

Fernando, 60, has been a member of the Sri Lankan parliament since 1977 and has held the portfolios of justice, information and broadcasting, and foreign affairs.

He has also written several books with his latest on Sri Lanka's diplomatic relations through the ages to be released in August. He is also a consultant to a theatre play on the life of Nelson Mandela. 

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