Former United States President Bill Clinton has backed British Prime Minister Tony Blair as the next United Nations secretary general.
Blair would make a good secretary general of the UN, Clinton told BBC television.
Clinton said he had discussed Blair's future with him and told him there was a lot of good he can do in the world after leaving Downing Street. Blair has said he would step down before the next general election. The current UN chief, Kofi Annan, ends his term on December 31 this year.
Clinton said whatever Blair did after leaving Number 10 he could expect immense rewards from speaking engagements, books and directorships.
"What I would say to him and what I have said to him - I saw him actually last month - is that, when he does go, he is still got a lot to do, a lot of good he can do in the world and that is the most important thing," Clinton said, adding, "He can... take a position, or he can do what I do - just create your own operation and try to find some public good you can do as a private citizen."
Since his own retirement from leading a country in 2000, Clinton has established a foundation campaigning on issues such as the fight against HIV/Aids.
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