Annan says Iraq oil scandal has cast shadow over UN

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 21 (AFP) - Secretary General Kofi Annan on Tuesday said the allegations of corruption in the UN's oil-for-food programme in Iraq had "cast a shadow" over the United Nations.
"Our global mission has advanced on many fronts but the allegations about the oil-for-food programme have cast a shadow over the operations that brought relief to millions of Iraqis," he told a press conference here.
"We must find out the truth as soon as possible," he said, pledging to take action on a report from the enquiry into the handling of the programme being led by former US federal banking chairman Paul Volcker.
Annan said the question of his resignation did not come up in a meeting with top US officials last week but acknowledged he had had a difficult few months in the face of the damaging allegations.
"There's no doubt that this has been a part difficult year and I am relieved that this annus horribilis is coming to an end," Annan said.

12/21/2004 16:26 GMT - AFP