The European Commissioner for External Relations, Benita FerreroWaldner,61, on Sunday pulled out of the race to lead the UN culture and education organisation Unesco.
A former Austrian foreign minister,Mrs Ferrero-Waldner was seen as a strong challenger to Egyptian Culture Minister Faruq Hosni whose candidacy has been clouded by charges of anti-Semitism.
"Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner decided to withdraw in the interest of the organisation and European unity,"said an Austrian embassy statement.
Unesco's 58-nation executive council started voting on Thursday for a successor to Japan's Koichiro Matsuura as directorgeneral, with Mr Hosni seen as the favourite. Mrs Ferrero-Waldner won 11 votes in a third ballot on Saturday.
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