Palestine's UN permanent observer withdraws candidature for president of 81st UNGA session

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations has withdrawn the candidature of Riyad Mansour, Palestine's permanent observer to the United Nations, for the president of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), UNGA President Annalena Baerbock announced Thursday.

The withdrawal was due to the prevailing conditions in Palestine, Baerbock said in a letter to all permanent representatives and permanent observers to the United Nations.

In accordance with the established regional rotation, the president of the 81st UNGA session will be elected from the Asia Pacific Group.

Following Mansour's withdrawal, two candidates remain in the race for the post -- Md. Touhid Hossain of Bangladesh and Andreas S. Kakouris of Cyprus.

According to a note sent to reporters on Thursday, Baerbock will convene informal dialogues with the candidates in May and an election will be held on June 2. ■