UN Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan is expected make it official today that he will run for a second five-year term. Most diplomats believe his re-election is a forgone conclusion.
"He promised he would go public with his intentions on a second term so you might anticipate he would have something to say on that", UN spokesman Mr Fred Eckhard told reporters when asked whether Mr Annan would announce his decision at a scheduled news conference.
Low-key and personable, Mr Annan (62) has acquired in former Ambassador Mr Richard Holbrooke's words, the status of a diplomatic rock star.
He is greeted by large crowds around the world as a moral leader of an organisation that breeds much hope but often cannot move without money and decisions from its leading members. The latter are said to include the US.
Some Asian countries say that it is their turn to field a candidate for the world's top diplomatic post but they have not come up with a candidate and few doubt anyone could successfully oppose Mr Annan.
Re-electing Mr Annan, a Ghanaian, would give Africa three terms rather than the customary two. Mr Annan's predecessor, Mr Boutros Boutros-Ghali, an Egyptian, was secretary-general from 1991 to 1996 but was blocked by a US veto in the UN Security Council from seeking a second term.
The Bush administration is expected to support Mr Annan, who is on good terms with Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell, even if he was helped into power by former President Bill Clinton.
Last week Mr Annan got a strong endorsement from the 53-nation African group at the United Nations. It pledged to campaign for him if he decides to run.