TEHRAN, September 18 (RIA Novosti) - Iranian politicians want President Mohammad Khatami to become UN Secretary General.

Leaders of various political parties of the Islamic Republic backed the initiative to forward Mr. Khatami's candidacy to the post of the UN Secretary General," Hasan Ghafourifard, head of Iran's inter-party coalition told RIA Novosti on Saturday.

According to him, "the Iranian delegation at the recent third conference of Asia's Parties in Beijing proposed Mr. Khatami's candidacy to the post of the United Nations Leader for the upcoming period".

"In the near future our proposal will be submitted to Iran's incumbent president. If he gives consent we shall form a special committee to implement our initiative," Mr. Ghafourifard noted.

The second presidential term of Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad Khatami expires in summer 2005. According to the legislation, he cannot be reelected to this post. The reelection of the UN Secretary General is also planned for this period. In compliance with world practice, a representative of an Asian country should become the next UN leader.