Annan names new chief of staff

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has chosen the head of the UN Development Programme as his new chief of staff, who will be looked at to help push through reforms as the global body faces corruption allegations and strained relations with Washington.

Mark Malloch Brown, UN officials said yesterday, would replace Iqbal Riza, 70, who announced his retirement as chief of staff two weeks ago, about the same time as two other top UN officials. The United Nations described the moves as coincidental year-end changes.

The openings give Mr Annan an opportunity to put in place UN reforms he has advocated and tackle the damage caused to the world body over corruption in the Iraqi oil-for-food programme, which UN officials believe is exaggerated but nevertheless need to confront.

The United Nations is also investigating peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for rape and prostitution. The challenges come as the body is coordinating massive relief efforts to victims of the Asian earthquake and playing a key role in organising elections in Iraq.

Mr Malloch Brown, a 51-year old Briton, whose official title is administrator of UNDP, is credited with a reform of the agency, which has programmes in 166 nations. He took office in 1999 after serving as a World Bank vice president in charge of external affairs and public relations. The other two officials who have decided to leave are Catherine Bertini, an American undersecretary-general for management and Jean-Pierre Halbwachs of Mauritius, the UN controller.

A group of friends outside of the UN met Mr Annan on December 5 met in the apartment of former UN Ambassador Richard Holbrooke to discuss ways of rescuing the world body and Mr Annan's reputation after hardliners in Congress kept up a barrage of criticism over the oil-for-food programme, the New York Times reported.