Paris - The UN's cultural and scientific body, UNESCO, started voting for a new director-general yesterday, as fresh allegations emerged of nepotism and money-wasting in the agency.
Out of a field of 11, candidates from Japan, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Egypt were regarded as favourites to replace Mr Frederico Mayor of Spain as director-general. Japan's ambassador to France, Mr Koichiro Matsuura, led the 11-man race after the first round of voting yesterday, diplomatic sources said. The Guardian newspaper meanwhile published allegations that - despite promises of a clean-up under Mr Mayor - serious malpractices still exist.