The head of the United Nations intellectual property agency, under pressure from industrialised countries to resign, has announced he will leave office late next year, 12 months before his contract expires.
The move late on Tuesday by Kamil Idris, director -general of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, follows a campaign to oust him led by the US, Switzerland and the European Union that included blocking approval of Wipo's SFr280m ($250m, €170m, £121m) yearly budget.
Mr Idris was accused of mismanagement and misconduct, including falsifying his age on official documents to advance his career. However, Sudanese-born Mr Idris, who denies any wrongdoing, has been staunchly supported by African and Muslim nations.
Wipo manages global treaties on patents, trademarks and copyrights, and acts as a clearing house for international patent applications whose fees provide the bulk of its income.
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