Shah in Baghdad to resume talks with Iraqi officials

Prakash Shah, the special representative of the UN secretary-general, arrived on Thursday in Baghdad to resume talks with Iraqi officials. Last March Shah assumed his mission in Baghdad in order to improve contacts between Iraq and the UN.

Last week, Iraqi deputy Premier Tariq Aziz announced at the conclusion of his visit to the UN headquarters that contacts with the UN will continue through Shah.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had proposed a comprehensive revision at the UN Security Council of the sanctions imposed on Iraq and the progress made so far by Iraq in dismantling its weapons.

However, the UN Security Council put preconditions, requesting resumption of cooperation with UNSCOM, suspended on August 5 before making any revision.