London: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is of the opinion that the United Nations does not currently have the capacity to send a security force into Iraq. He said this after talks in London with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"Until the (UN Security) Council gives us a new mandate, we are not really talking of a UN force and, quite frankly, I doubt that we will have the capacity to take over that responsibility at this stage," Annan said on June 25.

"If we don't have the capacity, I wouldn't want to take on the additional role and more responsibility."

Annan said the "occupying powers" had the responsibility to provide security and effective administration to the people of Iraq while dwelling on the killing of 6 British troops in Southern Iraq on June 24.

On being asked about a greater security role for the UN, Annan said: "We are guided by UN Security Council resolution 1483", passed unanimously in May, "which leaves the responsibility for security and for creating a secure environment to the coalition forces or the occupying power.

"The occupying power does have a responsibility to promote the welfare of the Iraqi people through effective administration of Iraq," he added.

Agencies