Pakistan, July 24 -- The six candidates for United Nations secretary-general will debate Thursday in the symbolic General Assembly Hall, one week before the formal start of a selection process crucial to an organization in deep crisis.

With the campaign lacking a clear favorite and struggling to generate real enthusiasm, the hopefuls will face 90 minutes of questions from diplomats, UN employees and civil society representatives at an event starting at 5:00 pm (2100 GMT) and broadcast by Bloomberg.

Chile's Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador's Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Costa Rican Rebeca Grynspan, Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Macky Sall of Senegal are all in the running to succeed outgoing Secretary-General A...