WHO debates Sars and smoking

By Imogen Foulkes
BBC correspondent in Berne

The pneumonia-like virus Sars and tobacco control are set to dominate the annual assembly of the World Health Organisation, being attended by 192 member states.

The meeting from 19 May until 28 May in Geneva will also see the confirmation of Jong-wook Lee as the organisation's new director-general.

Ways of tackling Sars will be discussed

He will replace Gro Harlem Brundtland who is retiring after five years in office.

She made tobacco control one of the main issues during her time as WHO director-general.

Now, at her last health assembly, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is due to be formally adopted.

The convention is unique in the history of the WHO, and if it comes into force, it will be the world's first-ever global anti-smoking treaty.

But WHO officials have openly accused the tobacco industry of using dirty tricks to thwart the convention, and they say they expect these to continue right up until the last moment.

The United States, however, which voiced opposition to the treaty, now says it will support it.

In what appeared a last-minute change of position, US health secretary Tommy Thompson said the US would not ask for any changes in the convention, but he stopped short of saying that President Bush would actually ratify it.

Row brewing

Meanwhile, the Sars virus will dominate discussion at the assembly too.

The WHO has been working overtime on Sars since the virus first appeared several months ago.

One of the organisation's own doctors was among the first casualties of the disease.

Now the opening session of the assembly is likely to see a row between two Sars-affected regions.

Taiwan is due to ask again for observer status at the WHO, but China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province, is sure to oppose the bid.