Portugal's former PM backed as new UN chief

The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously backed Antonio Guterres, the former prime minister of Portugal who was the UN's refugee chief for a decade, to be the next secretary-general.

During a closed-door meeting, the 15 council members adopted a resolution formally presenting Guterres as their choice to be the world's diplomat-in-chief to the General Assembly, diplomats at the session told AFP.

Guterres said he wants to be "an honest broker, a bridge-builder and someone who tries to create conditions for consensus".