Thursday, April 28 2005 19:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan today (Apr 28, 2005) indicated that the next chief of the world body would be from Asia when his term ends next year.

"The Secretary General is elected on a rotational basis. There is a general sense that next time it would be from Asia," he said at a press conference in New Delhi at the end of his three-day visit.

The last UN secretary General from Asia was U Thant who hailed from Myanmar and served in the key slot for a decade from 1961.

Annan noted that already a candidate has emerged from Thailand.

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, with the support of the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) grouping, has announced his candidature.