Kofi Annan

Kofi Annan Biography

Kofi Annan, a former Ghanaian Diplomat, was the 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations. Taking over from the former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt, he served in this post from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006. His successor is Ban Ki-Moon of the Republic of Korea, who took office on 1 January 2007.

Personal:

Kofi Annan was born on 8 April 1938 in Kumasi, Ghana. He comes from an affluent Asante and Fante family.

Kofi Annan was married to Titi Alakija, a Nigerian, from whom he divorced in the 1970s. He is now married to Nana Maria Annan, a Swedish Lawyer and a relative of the Second World War hero, Swedish Diplomat Raoul Wallenberg. The Annans have three children.

Education:

Kofi Annan completed his school education from Mfantsipim Boarding School, an elite educational institute in Cape Coast. He studied here from 1945 to 1957.

Later, in 1958, he went for higher studies to Kumasi College of Science and Technology, which has since been renamed the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology of Ghana. Kofi Annan studied Economics here for three years and then, on the basis of a Ford Foundation Grant, went on to study at Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota. After receiving his Undergraduate Degree in Economics, Kofi Annan then proceeded to Geneva, Switzerland, where he studied from 1961 to 1962 at the Institute of International Affairs (IUHEI). Next came the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management, which Kofi Annan attended from 1971 to 1972 and from which he took a Master of Science degree.

Apart from his native Akan language, Kofi Annan is fluent in Kru, French, and English.

Early Career:

Upon graduating from the IUHEI, Kofi Annan joined the World Health Organization as a Budget Officer. He worked in this capacity from 1962 to 1974, when he returned to Ghana and worked for the next few years as the Director of Tourism.

He was back working for the United Nations in 1987 and, from 1987 to 1994, he served variously as the Assistant Secretary General for Human Resources Management and Security Coordinator, the Assistant Secretary General for Programme Planning, Budget and Finance, and Controller, and the Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations.

From October 1995 to March 1996, he was the Special Representative of the Secretary General to the former Yugoslavia.

He continued as Assistant Secretary General from April 1996 to December 1996, when he was sworn in as the United Nations Secretary-General. He is the first person to have worked up to this position from the UN staff ranks.

Secretary General of the United Nations:

As Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan lay special emphasis on strengthening and improving the UN management and in implementing the founding principles of the Organization. He strongly advocated the enforcement of International Law and Human Rights, and oversaw the establishment of new UN bodies like the Peacebuilding Commission, the Human Rights Council, and the Global AIDS and Health Fund. The Global Compact initiative was launched under his direction in 1999 to promote social responsibility in the business world.

Kofi Annan used his considerable diplomatic skills in trying to mitigate conflicts in various parts of the world. In 1998, he interceded in Nigeria and Iraq, offering his assistance to the new civilian government in Nigeria and attempting to resolve the deadlock over compliance with UN Weapons Inspections in Iraq. He oversaw Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia in 1999.

In the more recent times, he supervised Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon. He also attempted to broker peace between Israel and the Hezbollah after the Lebanon war, and between Cameron and Nigeria after their dispute over the Bakassi Peninsula.

Kofi Annan staunchly opposed the US aggression on Iraq in 2003 and called it illegal.

He supported UN peacekeeping initiatives in Darfur.

Controversies:

He has been accused of remaining passive and failing to intervene in face of the Rwandan Genocide by Canadian ex-general Romeo Dallaire.

He also failed to take appropriate and immediate action against Ruud Lubbers, the former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who has been accused of sexual harassment and abuse of authority.In fact, he supported him until the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) found him guilty.

His decision to give clearance to Dilip Nair, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, who was also accused of sexual harassment, has not been perceived in a favorable light by many in the UN.

In 2004, Kofi Annan was dragged into an UN Oil-for-Foods Programme contract scandal involving his son Kojo. Apparently Kojo Annan received payments from Cotecna Inspection SA, a Swiss company, for getting them the aforementioned contract. Kofi Annan was eventually cleared of any complicity in the matter.

Honors:

Kofi Annan and the United Nations received a joint Nobel Peace Prize on 10 December 2001. The award was given 'for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world'.

Kofi Annan: Zimabwe Shames Africa
In an exclusive interview, the former UN secretary general says he is ready to help Zimbabwe through its crisis but warns against judging the whole of Africa

Annan's Plea Sees Kenyan Protests Cancelled
Kenya's opposition today called off street protests in response to an appeal by Kofi Annan, who is trying to broker a power-sharing agreement to quell further violence

Annan to Unveil Deal to End Kenyan Violence
Kofi Annan, the former head of the UN, will today provide details of a peace deal aimed at restoring Kenya's stability after weeks of deadly violence

Kofi Annan and the Art of Intelligent Intervention
Jonathan Steele: His mediation in Kenya shows up Washington's disastrous meddling in neighboring Somalia

Kenyan Rivals Close to Deal, Says Annan
Kenya's rival factions close to deal to end the violent unrest that has claimed 1,000 lives across the country, the former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, says

Dozens Die in Kenyan Riots
Kofi Annan calls for probe into civil rights abuses as machete gangs and arsonists settle old scores, reports Tracy McVeigh

Kenyan Police Fire Teargas at Pro-kibaki Crowd
Violence comes as Kofi Annan due to start attempts to broker deal to end unrest.

Kenyan Minister Spurns Annan Intervention
Hopes that the former UN secretary general Kofi Annan could bring an end to the crisis in Kenya were dealt a blow today when a cabinet minister insisted: "We don't have a problem to be solved here."

Open Letter to UN Secretary Kofi Annan - AU headquarters removed from Addis Ababa
A few hours before being replaced by his elected successor, Kofi Annan should live a memory flash back, and remembering his African identity, utterly pronounce the African name that became synonym for "Hope of the Oppressed", the name of the Oromo Capital: Finfinne!

Kofi Annan’s last job: call fallacious ‘Addis Ababa’ Finfinne, capital of Oromo Ethiopia!
Kofi Annan, before quitting his position, must say the rest of the world that the real name of Addis Ababa is Finfinne, and it is this name that in today’s worst African hell – fake Ethiopia the majority of the people, Oromos, Sidamas and Ogadenis, still use.

Kofi Annan's Timidity Has Failed the Un
By failing to rock the boat harder and earlier on Iraq, Kofi Annan steered the UN into troubled waters, writes Mark Tran

Annan Calls for Urgent Action on Darfur
The UN secretary general today urged an emergency session of the UN human rights council to take act immediately over atrocities in Sudan.

Annan Bows Out of Un With Attack on Bush
Secretary general accuses US of human rights abuses - Washington 'abandoned its ideals' in war on terror

Annan: Iraq Was Safer Under Saddam
Life for ordinary Iraqis is now more dangerous than under Saddam Hussein as the country descends into violence "much worse" than civil war, according to the outgoing secretary general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.

Annan Urges Action to Avert Civil War in Iraq
UN chief's warning comes amid flurry of diplomacy - US study said to call for talks with Iran and Syria

UN Says Politics Lies Behind Rift Between West and Muslims
Politics - not religion - lies at the root of a growing divide between Muslim and western societies, according to a report presented to the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, yesterday.

UN Officials Concerned About Annan's Successor As Secretary General
Senior officials at the United Nations expressed despair today at the prospect of Kofi Annan being succeeded as secretary general by Ban Ki-Moon, the South Korean foreign minister.

Ban is Front Runner to Succeed Annan
South Korea's foreign minister, Ban Ki-Moon, looks set to succeed Kofi Annan as UN secretary-general, after easily winning the latest informal poll.

Iraq in Danger of Civil War, Warns Annan Ahead of Crucial Un Assembly
The UN secretary general warned yesterday that Iraq was in danger of sliding into anarchy and civil war.

Security Council Divided on Successor to Kofi Annan
· Strong secretary general crucial to body's survival · Britain expected to back Jordanian frontrunner

Iran Open to Nuclear Talks, Says Annan
Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, eased the pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme yesterday when he stopped short of condemning it for ignoring an international deadline to suspend uranium enrichment and appeared to accept a key part of its negotiating stance.

Annan Calls for End to Lebanon Blockade
· Israeli PM sidesteps blockade question · Hizbullah: "No unconditional prisoner swap" · Annan calls for Gaza Strip to be reopened

Annan Visits Un Peacekeepers in Lebanon
The UN secretary general has begun an 11-day tour of the war-torn region as Italian troops join the stabilising force.

Annan: Lebanon Ceasefire at Critical Stage
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, arrived in Beirut today at the start of a visit to the Middle East aimed at strengthening the uneasy ceasefire in Lebanon.

J'ACCUSE! Israeli Crimes against Humanity
Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, has accused Israel of an "apparent" deliberate targeting of a United Nations observation post in southern Lebanon, killing up to four neutral observers in an act of state terrorism so horrific it rips at the heart of every breathing being.

Israel Angry, Us Wary As Annan Peace Plan Calls for Ceasefire
Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, mapped out a peace plan for Lebanon yesterday that produced a lukewarm response from Washington and ill-concealed fury from Israeli diplomats.

Annan Calls for Ceasefire
The UN and the US government are on a collision course over the war in Lebanon, after the UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities.

Annan Sends Envoys in Effort to Contain Crisis
The United Nations and the European Union announced emergency diplomatic trips to the Middle East yesterday, as many countries - but not Britain and America - joined a chorus of condemnation of Israel's actions in Lebanon.

Annan Enraged By 'overgrown Schoolboy' Reporter
For the world's most senior diplomat it was a decidedly undiplomatic moment. In a rare fit of temper for a man famed for keeping his cool, the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, launched an extraordinary attack against the New York correspondent of the Times, James Bone, branding him an "overgrown schoolboy".

Times Reporter Feels Kofi Annan's Wrath
UN secretary general Kofi Annan has launched an extraordinary outburst against the Times' New York correspondent, James Bone, branding him an 'overgrown schoolboy'. By Jason Deans.

Annan's Axe Hangs Over Rising Star of Un Accused of Harassing Staff
Kofi Annan intends to fire the UN's most senior election official over allegations of staff harassment and management failures, according to reports.

Sunday Times Pays Out Over Annan Story
The Sunday Times agreed today to pay damages to the son of United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan over allegations he participated in Iraq's controversial oil-for-food programme. By Chris Tryhorn and agencies.

Annan Joins Chorus of Despair Over Iran
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, has added his voice to the chorus of international despair over Iran's call to wipe Israel off the map. Mr Annan expressed "dismay" over the call by the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, and warned Iran that all UN members had agreed to "refrain...

Annan urges post-tsunami style generosity for Pakistan
We saw this generosity at the time of the tsunami. We need it here too," Annan told journalists. "I know it's been a difficult year in terms of natural disasters, beginning with the tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the disaster in Central America, and now we have the earthquake. There must be a bit of fatigue, but we need your help to save lives."

Annan Call for Reform in Wake of Report
Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, yesterday described the findings of the investigation into the Iraq oil-for-food scandal as "painful" and "embarrassing" and underlined an urgent need for reform of the world organisation.

Annan Rues Iraq Oil-for-food Plan
Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, expressed regret last night that the organisation had ever become involved in the Iraq oil-for-food programme.

Annan Seeks Support for Reform
Kofi Annan, UN secretary-general, is scheduled to fly to London this weekend to bolster support ahead of the most crucial fortnight of his career.

Annan Faces New Claims in Oil-for-food Scandal
The future of the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, was once more in question yesterday after a commission of inquiry revealed it was "urgently reviewing" a newly disclosed document that cast fresh light on Mr Annan's role in the "oil-for-food" corruption scandal.

US Hawks Put Annan's Job on the Line
The United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, is fighting for his job in the face of an increasing campaign by Republican congressmen who have launched a series of investigations into the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal.

Annan Says Us and Uk Allowed Iraqi Oil Scam
Western allies deny turning blind eye to smuggling by Saddam.

Hariri Murder Comes Under Fresh Scrutiny From Un Special Team
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, will begin assembling a new international team next week to investigate the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.

Annan Cleared in Oil-for-food Inquiry
UN chief damaged after son's links to Iraq scandal are criticised.

Annan Cleared Over Un Contract Bid
Investigators examining the UN's oil-for-food programme in Iraq today cleared the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, of interfering in the awarding of a big contract to a firm that employed his son.

Hariri Killing May Need Wider Inquiry Says Annan
A more comprehensive investigation of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri's assassination may be needed, the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, said yesterday.

Annan Proposes Radical Un Shakeup
Kofi Annan will today propose a radical change to the workings of the United Nations after a period of scandals and controversy that has plagued the organisation and its secretary general.

Annan Attacks Erosion of Rights in War on Terror
US and Britain in UN secretary general's sights.

UN Refugee Chief Refuses to Quit Over Sexual Harassment Row
A senior UN official arrived in New York yesterday for meetings with the secretary general, Kofi Annan, after the contents of a confidential report into allegations of misconduct involving sexual harassment were leaked to the press.

Ex-chief Linked to Un Oil Scandal
Kofi Annan yesterday promised to move swiftly to deal with corruption after an inquiry into the oil-for-food programme drew links to the relatives of the former UN chief Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

UN Chief Awaits Fraud Report
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, is braced today for the publication of an interim report on the alleged mismanagement of the £44bn oil-for-food programme for Iraq.

World Briefing: Tactical Bush Puts His War With Annan on Hold ... for Now
Simon Tisdall: The Bush administration has distanced itself for the time being from congressional demands for the resignation of the UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan.

America Increases Pressure on Annan Over Un Scandals
There is growing fear among United Nations officials that Secretary-General Kofi Annan may have lost the confidence of the organisation's most powerful constituent, the United States.

Annan Urges Security Council Warning on Sudan
Kofi Annan today called on the UN security council to issue "the strongest warning" to forces fighting in Sudan to bring an end to the civil war in the south and the crisis in the western Darfur region.

UN Plea for More Troops in Congo
The UN is under pressure to expand its peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the prospect of renewed fighting has prompted tens of thousands of refugees to flee. Tomorrow the security council is to debate the secretary general Kofi Annan's plea to renew the force's...

Annan Rebukes Law-breaking Nations
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, yesterday delivered a stern rebuke to nations that 'shamelessly disregard' international law.

Iraq War Was Illegal and Breached Un Charter, Says Annan
The United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, declared explicitly for the first time last night that the US-led war on Iraq was illegal. Mr Annan said that the invasion was not sanctioned by the UN security council or in accordance with the UN's founding charter. In an interview with...

Annan Urges Big Increase in Troops for Darfur
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, called for a substantial and speedy expansion of the international forces in Darfur after reporting that the Sudanese government had failed to stop attacks on civilians. He was delivering his verdict on Khartoum after the security council's deadline....

Annan Calls on Burma to Free Suu Kyi
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, has called for the immediate release of the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying that the country's "incomplete" democratic transition will soon lose the little international support it still has. In a strongly worded statement released...

Annan Calls for More Darfur Aid
The UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, today urged governments to give more aid funding to the Darfur region of Sudan. A spokeswoman for Mr Annan said he had written letters to key donor countries in an effort to meet a £105m shortfall. The move comes amid growing criticism at...

Mystery of the Missing Refugees As Annan Visits Darfur Camps
The day before Kofi Annan arrived, there had been as many as 4,000 people living in makeshift shelters in the patch of grubby sand between the fast-flowing river and the row of tiny headstones which mark the cemetery at Meshtel, in North Darfur. But in the middle of the night, that number...

Greek Cypriot Leaders Reject Annan Plan
Kofi Annan's plan for the reunification of Cyprus, which is to be voted on by both sides of the island in separate referendums this Saturday, appeared doomed to failure today after the largest Greek-Cypriot political party announced its opposition to the settlement.

Ditch the Histrionics and Talk to Us Like Grown-ups
Blair must now discreetly distance himself from the White House. The message on Iraq left behind by the prime minister suggests he deeply needed his brief Bermuda holiday, before setting off today to see Kofi Annan and then George Bush in Washington.

Cypriots to Vote on Unity Plan
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, last night handed Greek, Turkish and Cypriot officials his final plan for the reunification of Cyprus, stressing that this was a last and historic opportunity to reunite the island before its May 1 entry to the EU. Although the majority Greek...

UN Chief Revises Unity Plan to Save Cyprus Talks
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, desperately tried to salvage stalled reunification talks on Cyprus yesterday by revising his peace plan for the island ahead of its May 1 entry into the EU. The UN chief agreed to make last-minute amendments to the blueprint as Greek and Turkish...

Kofi Annan Calls Aznar Author of His Own Defeat
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, said yesterday that the outgoing Spanish prime minister, José María Aznar, had paid for backing the Iraq war and blaming last week's terrorist attacks in Madrid on Eta.

Kofi Annan Says Aznar Author of His Own Defeat
Support for war and blaming Eta caused loss of election, says UN leader as PM-elect calls on Bush to hand over control.

Annan Calls in Uk Envoy Over Bugging
The British ambassador to the UN has been summoned to a meeting today with Kofi Annan to discuss allegations that his office had been bugged by British intelligence, according to UN sources.

Cypriot Peace Talks Back on
Britain last night welcomed efforts to end the division of Cyprus after the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, invited the island's Greek and Turkish leaders to peace talks in New York. The renewed diplomatic drive, following the collapse of UN-brokered negotiations last March, has become...

Annan Attacks Fortress Europe Over Migrants
United Nations chief pleads for warmer welcome.

UN to Decide Feasibility of Iraq Election
US looks to Annan for compromise over election. Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, said yesterday he would send a team to Iraq to determine if elections could be held in the summer.

Annan Considers Sending Un Mission to Iraq
The United Nations indicated last night that it would return to Iraq to help resolve a row between the US occupying force and the country's Shia majority over how best to hand back power to Iraqis. The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, emerged from a meeting with US, British and Iraqi...

UN's Chief Says Fence Must Go
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, yesterday declared Israel in violation of international law for flouting a UN resolution calling for its "security fence" around the West Bank to be dismantled. The fence "could damage the longer-term prospects for peace", Mr Annan wrote in a report...

World Losing Fight Against Aids, Says Annan
The world is losing the fight against the Aids epidemic, the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, warned today. Describing the disease as a "weapon of mass destruction", Mr Annan urged governments to do more to combat its spread. "In some of the countries we are talking about, AIDS...

Annan rejects US plan for Iraqi transition
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, yesterday issued a stinging rebuke to Washington's attempts to win financial and military backing for the US-led occupation of Iraq.

The United Nations Puzzle
Kofi Annan wants to make the UN more democratic. Easier said than done, says Mark Tran. Reform of the UN security council is the Rubik's cube of international diplomacy, yet Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, wants the world body to have another crack at this puzzle.

Annan: UN needs postwar reform
The United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, yesterday urged radical reform of the organisation in response to damaging divisions over Iraq.

Annan Throws Doubt on International Help in Iraq
America and Britain will face a challenge to persuade the international community to send troops to Iraq unless they agree to share power, the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, said yesterday. The assessment was delivered as the US and Britain renew their quest to get the international...

Annan Backs Iraq's Us-picked Leaders
The United Nations secretary general gave his stamp of approval yesterday to Iraq's governing council, selected by the US-led occupation forces in Iraq, which he believes "will provide a broadly representative Iraqi partner with whom the United Nations and the international community at large can...

British Troops May Join Un in Congo
The government was today considering a request by the UN to send British troops to join an emergency peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At prime ministers questions in the Commons, Tony Blair revealed he has spoken to the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, two days ago...

Britain considers UN call for Congo help
Britain is urgently considering the UN secretary general Kofi Annan's request for a contribution to an armed force of 1,000 for eastern Congo.

UN tries to halt staff protest against attack
Kofi Annan's office has barred UN staff from open opposition to the war in Iraq. Mr Annan's chief of staff, Syed Iqbal Riza, has written to the heads of all UN agencies to halt attempts to organise protests against the attack by publicly expressing support for the authority of the security council and the secretary general's efforts to avoid conflict.

UN Launches Inquiry Into American Spying
The United Nations has begun a top-level investigation into the bugging of its delegations by the United States, first revealed in The Observer last week. Sources in the office of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan confirmed last night that the spying operation had already been discussed at...

Kurds in fear of Turkish motives
The women were angry and frightened. As the letter was passed around, each set down their names in flowing Kurdish script. This week, the letter will be sent to Tony Blair and to Kofi Annan, the United Nations secretary-general, callingon them to protect Iraq's four million Kurds.

Annan Gives Last Warning to Cyprus
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, warned Cyprus's rival Greek and Turkish communities yesterday that they must either accept a peace deal to reunite the island or face the prospect of living as separate entities for ever. Using unusually blunt language, Mr Annan made the warning as he...

Annan Gives Cyprus Extra Time to Put a Peace Deal to Its People
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, extended his deadline for the divided communities of Cyprus to accept reunification until March 10 yesterday as he flew to the island for a final push towards agreement. He said he expected the Greek and Turkish leaders to tell him today whether they...

Neither warmonger nor pacifist, inscrutable Swede seeks truth
When Kofi Annan was headhunting Hans Blix for the unloved job of chief arms inspector in Iraq, the UN secretary general's first problem was finding the elusive Swede.

Annan Criticises Iraqi Report Restrictions
Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, has described as "unfortunate" the security council's handling of a decision to withhold copies of Iraq's arms declaration from its non-permanent members. Several of the 10, including Syria, Mexico and Norway, are unhappy about a deal made between...

Annan Clashes With Us Over No-fly Violations
The United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, clashed with Washington yesterday over the enforcement of no-fly zones in Iraq by American and British warplanes. It is unusual for Mr Annan to rebuke Washington. Equally rarely, Britain distanced itself, at least in private, from the US...

Annan warns Bush against impatience
Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, has issued his sternest warning yet to George Bush over his plans for an attack on Iraq, urging him not to look for "a flimsy, hasty excuse to go to war" and observing that Washington "does seem to have a lower threshold" for launching military action than other major powers.

What Baghdad said in letter to Kofi Annan
Message from Iraq's foreign affairs minister to UN. I have the honour to refer to the series of discussions held between Your Excellency and the Government of the Republic of Iraq on the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions on the question of Iraq...

Annan calls for multilateralism over Iraq
The UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, today delivered a strong defence of multilateralism to world leaders gathered at UN headquarters, in the face of a widely predicted US military campaign against Iraq.

Annan Urges Action on Poverty
The UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, today urged all nations to work together to help the poor and to rescue the world's struggling environment. Conjuring up the "cries for help of those 13 million souls" in southern Africa facing starvation, Mr Annan told world leaders gathered for the...

UN chief warns against 'unwise' action
The UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, said yesterday it would be "unwise" for the US to attack Iraq while the Middle East was in turmoil, and that he would write to Baghdad seeking compliance with the security council's disarmament demands.

Everyone but Mickey Mouse
The mayor of Washington may be barred from re-election because the list of signatures he submitted to qualify for nomination was found to contain those purporting to belong to Tony Blair, Kofi Annan, Donald Rumsfeld and the singer Billy Joel.

World Hunger is 'shameful', Says Annan
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, today opened the UN food summit by saying that the world's failure to significantly reduce hunger "should fill every one of us with shame". However, few western leaders turned up to bow their heads. In his opening remarks, Mr Annan told...

Annan Flies to Cyprus in Bid to Avert Crisis
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, flew into Cyprus yesterday to rejuvenate flagging peace talks between the island's Greek and Turkish leaders.

UN to Press on With Jenin 'war Crimes' Report
The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, is to go ahead with a report on allegations of war crimes in the Jenin refugee camp, despite Israeli rejection of a fact-finding mission approved by the security council. Instead of sending investigators to the West Bank town, Mr Annan will ask Israel...

Kofi Annan to Visit Cyprus for Reunification Talks
The UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, will travel to Cyprus this month in the hope of forming the outline of an agreement by June to reunify the Mediterranean island after a 27-year split, Mr Annan's chief envoy for Cyprus announced today. UN envoy Alvaro de Soto said that talks, recently...

Israelis face Annan with Jenin inquiry objections
An Israeli government team flew to New York last night to confront the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, about the proposed UN fact-finding mission to Jenin.

Annan Demands Israel Avoid Humanitarian Crisis By Opening Access for Aid
Israel must immediately open up the Palestinian territories it has invaded so that humanitarian aid can be rushed in to alleviate the suffering of the people trapped there, UN secretary general Kofi Annan said yesterday. Mr Annan said he was appalled by conditions on the ground for the...

Annan Pleads for Stability Through Aid
Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, today issued a plea for more foreign aid as a way of safeguarding global stability. Opening an international conference on aid in Monterrey, Mexico, Mr Annan argued that in an increasingly globalised world, rich countries depend on the stability of...

No More ' Business As Usual'
Kofi Annan, the secretary-general of the United Nations, yesterday called on the rich countries of the west to open their markets, increase their aid budgets and change their lifestyles.