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United Nations: The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the five permanent members of the Security Council in Geneva on September 13 in an effort to hammer out a compromise on the US-sponsored draft on Iraq now being discussed by the Council.

The US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Foreign Ministers of four others, including Igor Ivanov of Russia, Jack Straw of Britain, Dominique de Villepin of France and Tang Jiaxuan of China, are expected to attend the session which comes only 10 days before the world leaders meet at the UN to address its annual session.

Addressing a press conference on September 8, Annan said the day Iraqis govern themselves must come quickly. "Knowing the positions of the various parties, if they sat and discussed frankly and openly, I think we will be able to find a solution."

He indicated that the UN is prepared to play the role of political facilitator, saying, "In situations where the member states have come together to deal with a crisis situation and establish a new political order, the United Nations has often run the political facilitation process."

"If member sates, by coming together to deal with Iraq, want to see that model - whether the model of Afghanistan, Kosovo or East Timor - they are all on the table for discussion, and the United Nations has had good experience in these areas," he added.

Annan late September 8 evening called all 15 members of the Council to discuss the September 13 meeting with the Foreign Ministers.

PTI