Former Chilean President says she's going back to Chile

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who became head of the UN agency promoting women's equality in July 2010, said Friday night that she is giving up the post and returning home, an announcement that comes amid widespread speculation she plans to run for president again this year.

Bachelet, who was Chile's first woman president, ended a speech at the closing session of a two-week meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women on a personal note. However, she did not mention Chile's presidential race or give any specifics on when she was leaving or what her future plans are.

"This will be my last CSW," she said. "I'm going back to my country."

Bachelet is widely expected by Chileans to be a candidate in the Nov 17 presidential election, though she did not address the political angle. Recent polls have said that 54 per cent of voters support her, and the centre-left opposition views her as its best chance to defeat conservative President Sebastian Pinera and regain power.