Banki Readies Himself To Take Control Of The UN...

...While the French continue to provide the best standup comedy in all of Moon's Manhattan...

Much speculation

Over cocktails and canapes, there is much gossip about what are known as the holy trinity of UN posts: head of peacekeeping, boss of political affairs and director of humanitarian assistance.

Mr Annan's appointees are due to leave their posts early next year.

Ban Ki-moon has talked of UN reform but not in much detail

So who will Mr Ban choose?

The Americans have let it be known that they want peacekeeping, a post which the French regard as theirs.

"We are the only developed country that puts actual peacekeepers on the ground," pointed out a senior French diplomat.

"The Yanks can't have peacekeeping," said a developing world ambassador. "It would turn peacekeeping into a minor branch of the US army."

Meanwhile the British are insisting that they are not lobbying for political affairs, a powerful position which has traditionally been held by the UK.