Annan urged to seek second term as U.N. secretary-general

As U.N. secretary-general, Annan has emphasized reform and the organization's peacekeeping role

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- It is the most prestigious job in international diplomacy -- but who wants to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations?

Kofi Annan, whose five-year term runs out at the end of this year, is the odds-on favorite to win the backing of the Security Council for another term. But Annan has yet to announce whether he intends to run again.

At a press conference Thursday, leading African nations released a letter to Annan in which they urged him to seek another term.

Citing Annan's "leadership and skills" in areas such as U.N. reform, the overhauling of peacekeeping operations and forging partnerships with the world business community, ambassadors representing the 53-nation African Group pledged to fully back Annan as a candidate for another term, should he decide to run.

"We have surveyed the mood of member states and come to the conclusion there is overwhelming interest in the incumbent continuing in office," said Ambassador Roble Olhaye of Djibouti.

Algerian Ambassador Abdallah Baali said Africa supports Annan, who is from Ghana, because he has focused more on the problems plaguing that continent -- such as regional wars, AIDS and famine.

"In the past five years, Kofi Annan focused on Africa because the Africans had the impression the United Nations was not doing enough for them," Baali said.

Annan is strongly backed by key nations on the Security Council, including the United States. Former U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke once called him "the best secretary-general in the history of the United Nations."

But China, with power to veto any candidate, has not yet announced its position on another Annan term. Some Asian nations, noting that the past two secretaries-general have been from Africa, feel the next one should come from Asia.

Two possible Asian candidates mentioned by diplomats are Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury of Bangladesh and Kishore Mahbubani of Singapore. Both are currently members of the Security Council.

Annan is expected to announce by the end of March whether he intends to seek a second term.

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