Annan to Mid East in February

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, will go to the Middle East in February on his first official visit there since his appointment.

An Israeli spokesman said Mr Annan had been in the region before in other UN positions.

At last month's Ilsamic summit in Teheran, Mr Annan said both Israel and the Palestinians should fulfil their commitments to their peace agreements.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service