U.N. Security Council holds first ballot to choose next U.N. chief

Former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres speaks during a debate in the United Nations General Assembly between candidates vying to be the next U.N. Secretary General at U.N. headquarters in Manhattan, New York, U.S., July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is the front runner to be the next United Nations secretary-general, followed by former Slovenian President Danilo Turk, after the first U.N. Security Council secret ballot on Thursday.

According to results seen by Reuters, Irina Bokova of Bulgaria, director-general of U.N. cultural organisation UNESCO came in third, edging out former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and former Macedonian Foreign Minister Srgjan Kerim, who tied for fourth.