The 192-nation UN General Assembly on Tuesday elected Ban Ki-moon for a second term as the global body`s secretary general.

The assembly unanimously backed the former South Korean foreign minister by acclamation. His second five-year term will start on January 1, 2012 and run through 2016.

After a quiet start to his first mandate, Ban has become noticeable on the international stage in recent months for his outspoken defence of protesters taking part in the Arab Spring uprisings against strongarm leaders.

Ban took over from his predecessor Kofi Annan in January 2007. (*)

Source: ANTARA