UNITED NATIONS, Aug 7 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is "extremely concerned" about fighting in Iraq the past several days, particularly in the holy city of Najaf, where more than 300 have been reported killed, many of them civilians, a UN spokesman said.
"He is particularly troubled by the high toll of dead and wounded, including civilian casualties.
Annan, the spokesman said in a statement, "believes that, in such a situation, force should be a last resort. He calls for every effort to be made, even at this late hour, to work out a ceasefire and peaceful solution.
"The secretary-general believes that, in such a situation, force should be a last resort. He calls for every effort to be made, even at this late hour, to work out a ceasefire and peaceful solution.
"The United Nations is ready to extend its facilitating role to the current crisis, if this would be helpful," said the spokesman.
"Meanwhile, (Iraqi) Prime Minister (Iyad) Allawi`s offer today of a limited amnesty and wider participation in the political process are steps in the right direction."
Allawi on Saturday officially launched a limited amnesty to some elements of Iraq`s insurgency, saying it would cover previous regime elements, individuals who were caught in possession of light weapons and explosive materials, those who concealed information about insurgents or sheltered them and those who financed them or participated in actions that threatened the country`s security.