The search for a new UN secretary-general shifts into a higher gear during the last 10 days of this month, as the Security Council prepares to cast a first informal straw poll on the person to replace Kofi Annan when he steps down at the end of the year.
The 15 members will give their first impressions of the four formally declared candidates - from India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and South Korea - through an anonymous indication of "encourage", "discourage" or "no opinion". The candidates will be informed of their result.
