United States flip-flops on UN chief Annan, says it wants him to stay

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"UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United States expressed confidence in UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) on Thursday and said he should remain at the helm of the United Nations (news - web sites), an abrupt turnaround from its refusal to back him last week after a U.S. senator called for his resignation.

The unequivocal support from U.S. Ambassador John Danforth, who said he was speaking on behalf of President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s administration, aligned the United States with the 190 other members of the United Nations who rallied to support the beleaguered Annan.

"We are not suggesting or pushing for the resignation of the secretary general," Danforth said.

"We have worked well with him in the past and look forward to working with him for some time in the future."...

...On Wednesday, U.S. deputy ambassador Patrick Kennedy joined in the ovation at the end of Annan's presentation to the General Assembly of a report that called for the most sweeping reforms of the United Nations since its founding in 1945.

Annan said Tuesday he would stay on as UN chief and focus on reform during his final two years.

Danforth said U.S. support for a thorough oil-for-food investigation had been misinterpreted as a lack of confidence in Annan and a desire for his resignation. He said he was asked to clarify the United States supported the secretary general and did not want him to step down...

... Annan appointed former U.S. Federal Reserve (news - web sites) chairman Paul Volcker to lead an independent inquiry of the oil-for-food program and turned over all UN documents. Coleman, who is leading one of five U.S. congressional investigations, has accused Annan of not helping his inquiry.

The secretary general said it's up to Volcker, who controls the UN material and Volcker said he will only release documents with his reports. The first is due in January and a final report is expected in mid-2005."


Round and round and round it goes, and where it stops, nobody knows...