Claims of inducements in regional voting for WHO chief

Updated October 13, 2008 20:58:43

The Pacific island nation of Tonga claims several of its neighbouring islands nations were offered inducements by South Korea to change their votes at a regional meeting of a United Nations body. Tonga's candidate to be regional head of the World Health Organisation, Dr Villiame Tangi, who is also the country's deputy prime minister and health minister, lost to a South Korean candidate at a meeting in Manila. Pacific nations had all agreed at a recent Forum summit in Niue to vote for Dr Tangi. He was also supported by Australia, New Zealand, Japan and China. Samoa's acting prime minister, Misa Telefoni says it's obvious that Dr Tangi lost because at least six Pacific Island countries voted against him.



Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speakers: Tongan cabinet secretary, Eseta Fusitua,