Thailand nominates ex-minister for UN post

Thailand says it plans to nominate its former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan as a candidate to succeed Mary Robinson as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The current Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said Bangkok would submit the nomination to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan within the next few days before lobbying for support.

Surin Pitsuwan, a senior member of the opposition Democrat Party who studied at Harvard University in the United States, served almost three years in the previous government of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai.

Mrs Robinson, the former president of Ireland, has said she will not seek another term in the post when her current appointment expires in September.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service