Annan to meet senior Iraqi

The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, is to meet a senior Iraqi official, Ezzat Ibrahim, on the sidelines of the summit in Doha.

A spokesman for Mr Annan gave no details of the agenda, but said the meeting was arranged at Iraq's initiative.

However an Iraqi official said Mr Annan had requested the meeting.

Yesterday, Mr Annan indicated that he was hoping to persuade Iraq to readmit UN weapons inspectors in order to get sanctions against Baghdad lifted.

Meanwhile, Arab diplomatic efforts are reported to be under way in Doha to try to mediate a thaw in relations between Iraq and Kuwait.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service