Annan Names Picks for U.N. Refugee Chief

UNITED NATIONS – Secretary-General Kofi Annan (search) on Thursday named eight candidates from Europe, Africa and Australia to be the new U.N. refugee chief and replace Ruud Lubbers (search), who resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment.

The eight candidates to be the new U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (search), who will be called for interviews, in the next few weeks are:

— Emma Bonino of Italy, a member of the European Parliament and its foreign affairs and budget committees and human rights subcommittee;

— Hans Dahlgren of Sweden, state secretary for foreign affairs;

— Gareth Evans of Australia, president and chief executive of the Brussels-based International Crisis Group and a former Australian foreign minister;

— Antonio Guterres of Portugal, a former prime minister;

— Soren Jessen-Petersen of Denmark, chief U.N. envoy and head of the U.N. interim administration in Kosovo;

— Kamel Morjane of Tunisia, the assistant U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees;

— Mark Verwilghen of Belgium, the minister of economy, energy, foreign trade and scientific politics.