Bin Hammam urges Asia to rally behind him

NEW DELHI - Asia soccer chief Mohamad Bin Hammam oozed charm and geniality as he urged the continent to rally behind him on Thursday in his bid to unseat FIFA president Sepp Blatter in the governing body's June election.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) chief said the entire region should support this "Asian project" which, if successful, would end Blatter's 13-year reign at the helm.

"I'm hoping that this attempt is going to be an Asian project, being for all of Asia," the 61-year-old Qatari told reporters after a South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) seminar.