UN Secretary-General Expected to Win 2nd Term

The United Nations General Assembly is expected to reconfirm Ban Ki-moon for a second five-year term as the world's top diplomat.

The vote in the 192-nation assembly is expected Tuesday afternoon.

Last week, the Security Council endorsed the bid of Ban, a 67-year-old former South Korean foreign minister. Ban said he was "deeply honored" by the vote.

He has been secretary-general since January 1, 2007. His five-year term ends on December 31.

During his tenure, Ban has made climate change, disarmament, gender equality, and peace and security among his top priorities. He has been a near-constant traveler, personally extending U.N. and international support to countries in crisis.

His critics say he has not been as outspoken as he should be on issues such as human rights, and complain that his “quiet diplomacy” has failed in reining in the world’s dictators and despots.