UNESCO's executive board has chosen France's Audrey Azoulay as the Paris-based UN agency's new chief.

Azoulay, a former French culture minister, narrowly beat Qatar's Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari in the final 30-28 vote.

She won a run off against a third finalist Moushira Khattab from Egypt earlier Friday.

UNESCO's general assembly will have to sign off on the board's pick next month, but it's seen as a formality.

Azoulay would become the second French leader of the organization since Rene Maheu served as director-general in 1961-74.

Source: MENA