World Bank official to assess Iraq

The World Bank is sending a senior representative to Iraq to assess the country's reconstruction and development needs.

Nicholas Krafft will accompany the newly-appointed United Nations special representative in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

But the Bank said it was not yet ready to send a full team into the country.

"For weeks now, a team of World Bank experts has been assessing the most pressing needs in the potential reconstruction of Iraq, mainly in the areas of health, education, power, water and economic management," the bank said.

"Preparations for a full assessment mission to Iraq will take place as soon as adequate security conditions exist on the ground."

Officials from the United States - the biggest shareholder in the Bank - have complained that it has been too slow to get a team to Iraq.

The Bank has also invited 10 advisers and experts from seven different countries to Washington to help assess the task of reconstructing Iraq.