The United States holds India's candidate for the United Nations' secretary-general post Shashi Tharoor in greatest regard, but has not made any decision on who it would support to succeed Kofi Annan.

"Our administration has not yet made a decision on whom we will support to succeed Secretary General Kofi Annan. But we certainly hold Shashi Tharoor in greatest regard and I look forward to meeting him in my office," Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said on Wednesday.

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"I don't think President [George W] Bush will make this decision until much further into the process" he said.

Burns declined to comment on whether Tharoor being a UN 'insider' is unfair to other candidates.