Paris, Sep 19 (DPA) Unesco again failed to elect a successor to outgoing director-general Koichiro Matsuura Friday as controversial Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosny fell well short of receiving the necessary majority.

According to an unofficial count by diplomats close to Unesco, the 71-year-old Hosny received 23 votes from the 58 members of the organization's executive council.

Of the other eight candidates for the post, Benita Ferrero-Waldner of Austria, the current EU External Relations Commissioner, reportedly received nine votes.

Three more rounds of voting are scheduled before a new head is chosen at a Unesco General Assembly Oct 15.