Ban Ki-moon

United Nations, June 22 (Reuters): The 192-nation UN General Assembly yesterday unanimously approved a second five-year term for UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who analysts and diplomats see as a solid ally of Washington.

The former South Korean foreign minister, who took over as UN secretary general from his predecessor Kofi Annan in 2007, was re-elected to the world body’s top job by acclamation, effective next January 1.

Ban, 67, was unopposed, making his re-election a virtual certainty after the Security Council last week recommended he continue at the helm of the UN. He thanked the UN member states for the “great honour” they bestowed on him but later told reporters he had much unfinished business. “Clearly we have far to go,” Ban said. “Too many people lack basic human rights. Too many people are hungry. Too many children die needlessly every day.”

“Seldom has the United Nations been more relevant and never has it been more necessary,” he added.

US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice welcomed Ban’s re-election and praised his performance in “one of the toughest jobs in the world”.

“No one understands the burdens of this role better than he,” Rice said, adding that Washington was “grateful that he is willing to take them on”.

All the regional groups of UN member states backed Ban.