Annan forms Advisory Group on Iraq

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/BAE03FC8-5F9D-4DE8-952E-4BECDD9C0BD5.htm

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UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has gathered a group of 17 countries to form an advisory body that some participants believe could help shape Iraq's future.

The group, which held its first meeting on Monday, brings together Iraq's neighbours and Security Council members.

Several envoys said members of the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council would probably be invited to the next meeting, although no date had been set.

Annan told the meeting, attended by 17 ambassadors, that he would soon place a report before the Security Council on what the UN could do in Iraq.

He added that the UN planned to nominate an interim chief representative for Iraq shortly and a special representative early next year.

"We urged that the Secretary General appoint a special representative or an acting special representative as soon as possible," US Ambassador John Negroponte told reporters after the meeting.

"The Iraqi Governing Council... (has also) asked that a special representative be named as soon as possible." he said.