AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Jordan has recalled its ambassador to Qatar to protest the Gulf country's vote against a Jordanian prince to head the United Nations, the chief government spokesman said Tuesday. The ambassador, Omar al-Amad, has been recalled for consultations "on Qatar's departure from Arab consensus" to nominate Prince Zeid al-Hussein to be U.N. secretary general, spokesman Nasser Judeh said on state television's main evening news bulletin.Earlier two government officials had told The Associated Press that the ambassador had been recalled for consultations, but they declined to confirm that the move was linked to the Qatari vote.
On Monday, Judeh told reporters that Qatar "broke ranks" with the Arabs when it voted for a South Korean candidate instead of Prince Zeid. Zeid is among five candidates to succeed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan when he steps down at the end of the year. Zeid is the only Muslim candidate.
South Korea's Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon cemented his position as the near-certain successor to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Monday, the only candidate to escape a veto in an informal Security Council ballot.