UN postpones talks on Iraq

The UN secretary general Kofi Annan has proposed to postpone convening a second round of talks with Iraq until the end of the current year as a minimum due to the standing differences between members of the UN Security Council over the policy that should be taken towards Iraq.

News reports quoted Annan as saying to journalists on Monday evening that the second round of the negotiations will be held immediately after the UN Security Council will conclude its consultation to this effect. Annan explained that it will not be useful to hold these talks at higher levels while members of the UN Security Council are still split concerning the policy to be taken concerning Iraq.

Annan held the first round of talks with the Iraqi delegation by the end of February in an attempt to bridge the gap between the two sides on the two issues of inspecting for the Iraqi weapons and lifting the UN sanctions imposed on Iraq since 11 years.