Europe

UN expected to approve Guterres for secretary-general

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2016 file photo, former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres reads a statement at Necessidades Palace in Lisbon after the U.N. Security Council's selection of Guterres as next U.N. Secretary General. The United Nations' 193-member states are expected to appoint Guterres as the world body's next secretary-general on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Steven Governo, File) (The Associated Press)

U.N. Secretary-General-designate, Antonio Guterres, right, listens during a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly concerning his appointment, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016 at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) (The Associated Press)

Antonio Guterres of Portugal, Secretary-General designate of the United Nations, sits on the podium during his appointment at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (The Associated Press)

The United Nations' 193-member states are expected to appoint Portugal's former Prime Minister Antonio Guterres as the world body's next secretary-general.

Peter Thompson, president of the General Assembly, said in a statement that he hoped Guterres would be approved by a unanimous vote on Thursday.

Guterres was nominated by acclamation in the 15-member Security Council last week to replace Ban Ki-moon whose second five-year term ends on Dec. 31.