Paris, Oct 13 (AFP) Candidates from Qatar and Franceduelled today to become the new head of the UN's embattledcultural agency where Gulf tensions and accusations of anti-Israel bias loomed over the politically charged contest.
The campaign to succeed UNESCO's outgoing chief IrinaBokova was overshadowed by Washington's announcement yesterdaythat it planned to withdraw from the body after years oftensions over decisions seen as critical of Israel.
Israel itself announced shortly afterwards that it wouldfollow suit.
Arab states believe the job of director-general of the195-member organisation should go to one of them for the firsttime, but regional rivalries and the US and Israeliwithdrawals looked set to undercut their ambitions.
Former Qatari culture minister Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari is currently leading the contest, but he has beenunable to pick up support from other Gulf states who are partof a Saudi-led coalition blockading the gas-rich monarchy.
The division is likely to open the way for his rival,French ex-culture minister Audrey Azoulay, who is Jewish ofMoroccan origin. She edged out Egyptian rights activistMoushira Khattab today as the main challenger.
The ultimate winner, set to be decided in a final roundof voting later today, will face the difficult task of tryingto persuade the US and Israel to reverse course as well astackling the allegations of anti-Israel bias.
Reacting to the US withdrawal today, a spokesman forGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel said it sent a "bad signal" ata time of global instability, but he added that Berlin toowanted changes at the Paris-based body.
"That's why we put all our hope in the future director-general and expect that this person will carry out reforms,"spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters.
"Abuse of this organisation for political reasons mustcome to an end."In the face of Arab divisions, France has presentedAzoulay as a consensus figure who could mend fences and soothetensions caused by recent resolutions against Israel.
"Now more than ever UNESCO needs a project... whichrestores confidence and overcomes political divisions," theFrench foreign ministry said in a statement reacting to the USpullout.
Lebanon's candidate Vera El-Khoury, who bowed out at thefourth round, told AFP that the power game at play in the racehad shown UNESCO members "did not give a damn" about thecandidates' programmes.
Qatar has generously funded UNESCO in recent years andlobbied intensively for the post, which would help bolster itsinternational status at a time when it faces isolation in theGulf.
A Saudi-led coalition has been blockading the smallstrategically placed nation since June over its allegedsupport for radical Islamists and its ties to Iran.
Al-Kawari has also been dogged by old allegations ofanti-Semitism after the Simon Wiesenthal Center accused him ofremaining silent about anti-Semitic books at a fair in Dohawhen he was culture minister. (AFP)RB.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.