United Nations: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has fired a security chief and demoted another senior staffer following a highly critical report by an external panel, which faulted several top officials for events leading to deadly bombing of world body headquarters in Baghdad on August 19 last year, killing 22 people.

He, however rejected the resignation of his Deputy Louise Frechette, a Canadian who headed the steering group, which advised Annan to send senior staff members to work in Iraq despite unstable security situation following the US led military action.

Two officials responsible for security on the ground in Baghdad came in for highly critical comments and were charged with misconduct. They would face disciplinary proceedings.

UN security coordinator Tun Myat of Myanmar, on paid leave since November, was asked to step down as the report said he "appealed to be oblivious to the developing crisis."

Annan rejected Frechette's offer to resign but sent a critical letter to her expressing "disappointment and regret" over security flaws, chief UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

The report faulted the group of failing to ask "some searching questions" about the security before concluding that the staff could be sent to Baghdad.

The security officials, the report said, "appeared to be blinded by the conviction that UN personnel and installation would not become target of attack, despite clear warnings to the contrary." They did not take measures to improve the security at the headquarters even after they became aware of the risk.