Annan's Post at the U.N. May Be at Risk, Officials Fear
/United Nations officials fear that Secretary
General Kofi Annan may have lost the confidence of the organization's
most powerful constituent, the United States. They also say members of
the Bush administration may want Mr. Annan to resign because of his
disagreements with Washington about Iraq and the growing scandal over
the Iraq oil-for-food program. Concern at high levels of the
secretariat was reinforced by President Bush's pointed refusal on
Thursday to express confidence in Mr. Annan's continuing in office. He
also linked American financial support to the United Nations to a full
accounting of the program and Saddam Hussein's diversion of over $20
billion while under United Nations sanctions. "I look forward to the
full disclosure of the facts, a good, honest appraisal of that which
went on," Mr. Bush said.White House officials denied that the
administration was seeking Mr. Annan's departure. "There really hasn't
been any discussions about him stepping down," said Sean McCormick, the
national security council spokesman. "Our view is that we've worked
well with the secretary general on a range of issues, from the fight
against global AIDS to elections in Afghanistan and Iraq, and that an
investigation of the oil-for-food scandal should be pursued to the
greatest extent possible." [more]
- Oil-for-Food Scandal: U.S.-Led Attack on the UN or Proof of Corruption That Could Take Down Kofi Annan? [more]
