Ban Ki-Moon Sworn In As Head Of UN

Ban Ki-Moon, the new secretary-general of the UN (file photo) (epa) December 14, 2006 -- Ban Ki-moon of South Korea was sworn in today as the next secretary-general of the United Nations at a plenary session of the General Assembly that also honored the outgoing UN chief, Kofi Annan.

Ban, 62, is a former foreign minister of South Korea. He will be the eighth UN secretary-general since the world body was established in 1946.

The outgoing secretary-general, Kofi Annan of Ghana, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the UN in 2001.

(compiled from agency reports)