London, Sep 29 (IANS) Is South Korea using money power to buy votes and ensure that its Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon takes over as the next secretary-general of the United Nations?

According to a report in the British media, South Korea has pledged millions of dollars in aid and has offered other incentives to members of the UN Security Council who will select Kofi Annan's successor.

India's candidate, Shashi Tharoor has again finished second behind Ban in a straw poll conducted this week. Another ballot would be held Monday.

The Times reported Friday that the inducements offered by South Korea range from tens of millions of pounds of extra funding for African countries to lucrative trade agreements in Europe - and even the gift of a grand piano to Peru.

The report said it was broadly accepted at the UN that the winning candidate should be an Asian citizen because the last incumbents were African, Arab, South American and European. It is also the custom that none of the permanent members of the UN Security Council - America, Britain, China, France and Russia - stands for the post.

"I would like to stress that the allegations against Mr Ban Ki-Moon and, moreover, the integrity of the Korean Government do not correspond with the facts," In Joon Chung, the spokesman for the South Korean Embassy in London, said.

He added that Seoul had decided in 2002 to increase aid to the developing world. Joon said that the state visit to Greece was planned a year ago because Athens had been an ally of Seoul in the Korean War.

Supporters of Ban, 62, also insisted the career diplomat was highly respected around the world and had long experience in foreign affairs. Most recently he headed Seoul's team in peace talks with North Korea.

"Ban announced his bid in February and has since been criss-crossing the globe trying to win support. A month later South Korea announced that it would treble its aid budget to Africa to $100 million (£53 million) by 2008," the report said.

"Seoul then contributed tens of thousands of pounds to sponsor this year's African Union summit in the Gambia in July, when Mr Ban declared 2006 to be 'the Year of Africa' for South Korea.

"One fortunate recipient was Tanzania, which currently has a seat on the Security Council. When Mr Ban arrived in May he pledged $18 million for an educational programme and also promised to carry out a road and bridge project in western Tanzania.

"Between 1991 and 2003 South Korean grants to Tanzania totalled $4.7 million. Seoul's generosity seems to have worked. Yesterday Elly Matango, the Tanzanian Ambassador to Tokyo and Seoul, said that his Government had decided to support Mr Ban.

"This month President Roh and Mr Ban headed the most senior South Korean delegation since 1961 to visit Greece, another Security Council member. Overseen by hundreds of South Korean businessmen, the countries signed agreements on trade, tourism and maritime transport".

The report said South Korea denied that it was using foreign aid as a means of buying votes in the Security Council.

The Times quoted David Mepham, associate director of the Institute for Public Policy Research, as describing the selection process for the secretary-general's post as "untransparent and unprofessional".

He said: "Given the sensitivity and importance of the post, we need root-and-branch reform to ensure that we get the best candidate."