Annan says he will not resign from UN

PARIS - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, under fire over the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal, said on Wednesday he would not resign and was determined to continue his work to reform the United Nations.

Annan said in a newspaper interview it was regrettable that former UN Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker could not conduct his inquiry into the affair in "serenity" because of "incessant attacks against me, the UN, and this committee."

Annan's comments came after a newly disclosed memo appeared to cast doubt on his insistence he was unaware of a bid by a Swiss firm that employed his son for a lucrative contract under oil-for-food program.

Michael Holtzman, a spokesman for Volcker's inquiry committee, said on Tuesday UN-appointed investigators were "urgently reviewing" the memo.

Several US Republican lawmakers have accused Annan of mismanagement and called for his resignation.

"I am determined to work with the member states to conduct these reforms well," Annan told Thursday's Le Figaro daily, referring to his proposed reform package for the United Nations.

Asked whether he ruled out resigning, he said: "Absolutely."

Annan said the United Nations was confronted with a new threat from the US Congress to suspend contributions to obtain reforms.

"These threats are coming as we are engaged in major reforms to the organization. This does not facilitate the reforms process," he said.

"It's a good thing if a country like the United States makes proposals for reforms and is entirely committed. But these proposals must be discussed by the member states so that they can be decided in a calm and reflected way, without being submitted to threats."

A US congressional report on Wednesday criticized the United Nations for lacking oversight and accountability and urged rapid management reforms by Annan.

Annan in March put forward the most wide-ranging overhaul of the United Nations since its creation in 1945, with proposals including a new human rights body, rules on pre-emptive wars, and management reforms.

He wants agreement on a package soon so members can adopt it at a UN summit in New York in September.