UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Monday he would nominate US Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to head the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

If approved by UNICEF's Executive Board, Veneman will succeed another national of the United States, Carol Bellamy, as executive director of the UN agency.

"Annan Veneman is my candidate for the UNICEF position," Annan told reporters upon his arrival at the UN headquarters in New York.

"I will be submitting a recommendation to the board very shortly."

Bellamy, 63, first woman to be elected president of the New York City Council, is retiring in May after serving as UNICEF chief for 10 years. The top UNCEF post by tradition goes to a US national.

Veneman, 55, is the first US woman agriculture secretary. She resigned shortly after US President George W. Bush won re-election in November. She remains in the post until her replacement is confirmed.

UNICEF, created in 1946, is dedicated to addressing the needs of youngsters worldwide with more than 7,000 people working in 157 countries. The United States is the biggest donor of the organization.

Source: Xinhua