UN chief Annan to attend pope's funeral

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will attend Pope John Paul II's funeral on Friday, his spokesman announced Monday.
The UN Security Council also held a minute's silence before starting work on Monday to honour John Paul II.
Annan paid tribute to the pope on Saturday. "Quite apart from his role as a spiritual guide to more than a billion men, women and children, he was a tireless advocate of peace, a true pioneer in interfaith dialogue and a strong force for critical self-evaluation by the church itself," said Annan.

04/04/2005 16:43 GMT