US-led force to guard UN in Iraq

By Susannah Price
BBC UN correspondent

The UN wants a dedicated force, but still under US-led command

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan says UN staff and property in Iraq will be guarded by the US-led multinational force.

No country has volunteered to take part in a special protection force specifically for the UN.

Earlier this year, the US appealed for governments to contribute troops to protect future UN missions in Iraq.

Washington had hoped Muslim countries who did not join the multinational force would participate.

The UN, which pulled all its staff out of Iraq last year after two suicide bombs on its headquarters, is planning to send a small team there in the near future.

Security will be the top priority for UN staff returning to Iraq.

The continuing instability and violence and the memory of the suicide attack on the headquarters in Baghdad just a year ago has made the UN very cautious about sending back its personnel.

Muslim force

The Security Council passed a resolution on Iraq's future in June, which called for countries to contribute to a dedicated force responsible for protecting UN personnel and property in Iraq.

For the time being, for practical measures, we have no other choice but to rely on the multinational force Kofi Annan

This would have been distinct from the US-led multinational force, although still under its command.

Several countries, including Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Georgia, were asked to participate.

The UN secretary general said they had been in negotiations with about half a dozen countries, but had not received any firm offers.

Saudi Arabia had proposed that troops from Arab and Muslim countries could replace the US-led coalition forces, while Washington wanted this force to protect the UN.

Mr Annan said even if this plan went ahead it would take time to organise.

"For the time being, for practical measures, we have no other choice but to rely on the multinational force," he said.

What happens in the future - will the force be put together, will the attempts led by the Saudi Arabian government succeed - I really cannot say, but even it were to succeed I don't think it would be for tomorrow."

The secretary general's special representative for Iraq, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, and a small team are due in Baghdad shortly.

According to the UN Security Council resolution, they will be involved in helping to organise elections in January and in drawing up a new constitution.