The Thai foreign ministry has released details of a letter from the British ambassador in Bangkok Sir James Hodge expressing support for the candidature of the Thai deputy prime minister, Supachai Panitchpakdi, as the next head of the World Trade Organisation.

The ambassador was quoted as saying that Britain wanted the position to go to a representative of a developing country, and would lobby its European partners on behalf of Dr Supachi.

Many Asian countries have already expressed their backing for Dr Supachi.