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UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has nominated former Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers to replace the retiring Sadako Ogata as UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Lubbers, a 61-year-old Rotterdam native, served as Dutch prime minister from 1982 to 1994 and brings with him an "extraordinary record of high-level accomplishment."
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Iraq's refusal to allow independent experts into the country to assess the living conditions of its citizens has been described as a "barrier" to addressing the severe suffering caused by economic sanctions. Secretary General Kofi Annan has reportedly expressed frustration with Iraq's non-cooperation, citing
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United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called on the presidents of Guinea and Liberia to exercise restraint and support efforts to reduce tension and restore peace along their shared border. The appeal comes as thousands of refugees flee violent conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone into neighboring Guinea. Annan'
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A mob led by militiamen attacked a United Nations refugee office in West Timor, killing three staff members, including a person from Puerto Rico, and possibly another aid worker. The attack has sparked outrage across the world, with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan condemning the incident and demanding that
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As the U.N. Millennium Summit kicked off, Secretary-General Kofi Annan began a round of bilateral discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, marking the start of a historic gathering of world leaders. Annan and Barak's 35-minute session covered a range of topics, including the Middle East peace
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In the 19th century, Britain established a refuge for freed slaves in Sierra Leone, where they adopted the name "Creole" and began to build a new life. However, the indigenous people rejected their presence, setting the stage for centuries of conflict. The country's history was marked
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British soldiers with the First Royal Irish Regiment were being held hostage by an unknown armed group in Sierra Leone, officials said. Eleven soldiers on a routine liaison visit were seized while driving in a convoy, and one of them managed to make contact with the base, reporting that all
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Iraq is considering cutting its petroleum exports under the "oil for food" agreement due to delays in shipments of essential commodities, including food and medical supplies. The move comes as Iraq's oil dues of $8.3 billion remain deposited in a New York bank account, while
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The United Nations compensation commission, established to settle claims from countries and companies affected by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, has been obstructed by a disagreement between the United States, Russia, and France over a $21.6 billion claim submitted by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. The commission&
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As the US-led coalition continues its efforts to isolate Iraq, a recent rapprochement between Iraq and Syria has highlighted the growing divide between Washington and its European allies. The resumption of rail links between Baghdad and Aleppo, a crucial development that ended a 20-year break in service, has been seen
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Allied airstrikes targeting southern Iraq have resumed for a second day, damaging a train station and homes, and wounding at least three people. Lieutenant General Shaheen Yassin Ahmad, commander of the Iraqi air defense, stated that British and American warplanes attacked targets in Samawa, a city 170 miles south of
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As the world continues to observe the worsening humanitarian situation in Iraq, foreign leaders are increasingly speaking out against US-imposed sanctions. The most recent development came yesterday when Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called on the international community to take note of the suffering in Iraq. Following a visit to Iraq
