Thursday, September 28 2006 12:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: The UN Security Council will hold two quick straw polls today (Sept 28,2006) and Monday as it intensifies its search for the next Secretary General to replace incumbent Kofi Annan at the end of the year.

The straw poll today would not show if any candidate has a veto against him or her but Monday's exercise would bring out if a candidate has attracted a veto and that, diplomats say, could set the stage for withdrawal of candidates who feel that they stand no chance, thus narrowing field among the seven but opening way for others to be introduced.

India's Shashi Tharoor is among the seven candidates in the field. Former Afghan Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani and Latvian President Vaira Vike Freiberga, first woman to join the race, will contest in the straw poll for the first time.

While in today's poll, all members would get similar ballots, in that of Monday, veto-wielding permanent members -- the US, Britain, France, Russia and China -- will have different coloured ballots. A candidate needs nine votes with no veto to be recommended to the General Assembly election for a five-year term.

Asked why two polls have been scheduled so close, Council diplomats said the members could see standing of various candidates and then come back with fresh instructions from their government, hinting that Monday's poll might prove decisive.