United Nations
Ruud Lubbers, the high commissioner for refugees, has denied any wrongdoing and refuses to resign despite allegations of sexual harassment. The standoff between Lubbers and Secretary General Kofi Annan has escalated into a public display, with Lubbers labeling his accusers as liars and the UN as "slandering" him.
United Nations
Ruud Lubbers, the former Dutch prime minister, has resigned as head of the United Nations refugee agency in response to allegations of sexual harassment, which he denies. The move comes amidst a bitter dispute with Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, over how to handle the claims. Lubbers had initially vowed
United Nations
Ruud Lubbers, former Dutch prime minister, has vowed to continue as UN high commissioner for refugees despite allegations of sexual misconduct contained in a confidential UN report. The report, published by The Independent newspaper, claims Lubbers engaged in unwanted physical contact with a subordinate female staff member in December 2003
United Nations
The United Nations came under intense scrutiny at a Senate hearing on Tuesday for its failure to provide access to officials and documents related to the oil-for-food aid program in Iraq. The program, which ran from 1998 to 2003, was accused of allowing Saddam Hussein's regime to personally
United Nations
The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, voiced concerns that Africa is not on track to meet the development goals set by the UN in 2000. Speaking at the African Union summit in Abuja, Annan emphasized that drastic steps are needed from across the continent to achieve the Millennium Development
United Nations
United Nations investigators are probing allegations of corruption in the oil-for-food program, which allowed Saddam Hussein's regime to sell oil and generate revenue outside UN control. The investigation has questioned Secretary-General Kofi Annan about his involvement, citing his meetings with former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker and his team.
United Nations
Internal United Nations audits have criticized the oil-for-food program in Iraq for failing to adequately supervise and audit the companies hired to inspect the oil moving out and goods going in. The audits, prepared by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services, cover several years of the program and have
United Nations
Tensions are escalating against UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has faced an increasingly difficult year, following revelations of corruption within the UN's oil-for-food program in Iraq, criticism of his handling of international relief efforts, and a long-simmering feud with the Bush administration. The Secretary-General's fate is
United Nations
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has launched an appeal for additional international relief efforts in countries devastated by the killer tsunami that struck on December 26, 2004. In a special address to world and regional leaders, Annan emphasized the need for immediate and long-term support to help affected nations in Indonesia,
United Nations
The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has expressed concern over the reliability of disaster relief pledges after the Indian Ocean tsunami, citing past experiences where similar promises were not fulfilled. The $2.5-billion pledged by countries around the world may not materialize, with Annan noting that it's "
United Nations
The international community has responded with enormous generosity to the recent tsunami disaster, but the United Nations' relief efforts have been hindered by slow logistics and diplomatic squabbles. Despite the initial slow pace, aid shipments have finally begun to arrive in the worst-hit areas, and the UN refugee agency
United Nations
The devastating aftermath of the tsunami that swept through south Asia has left a trail of destruction, with the death toll now exceeding 117,000. Secretary of State Colin Powell is set to travel to the region to observe the relief efforts, as U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan expresses
