United Nations: Jordan's United Nations Ambassador Prince Zeid Raad Zeid Al Hussein has withdrawn from the race for UN secretary-general.

Zeid quit after Security Council members made clear South Korea's foreign minister would get the job.

His candidacy touched off a dispute between Qatar and Jordan, which is considering punitive diplomatic measures, officials said.

Jordan recalled its ambassador from Doha on Tuesday to protest Qatar's failure to support Zeid.

It said that Qatar, the only Arab member of the council, broke an Arab accord to back the prince, the only Muslim in the race.

However, Qatar's foreign ministry contended it had told Jordan it would support Ban or Thailand's deputy prime minister.

In an informal ballot on Monday, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon got the most votes to succeed as Secretary-General.

A formal vote is scheduled on October 9. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's term expires on December 31.

Still in the race are Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Sathirathai and former Afghan Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani.