U.N. chief's Special Envoy to Iraq removed

UNITED NATIONS, MARCH 24. The United Nations has abolished the post of Secretary-General's special envoy to Iraq and told its incumbent, Mr. Prakash Shah, that his services were ``no longer needed'' because of changes to the U.N arms inspection plan for the country. ``In light of the Security Council's new plan for inspection and monitoring in Iraq, the Secretary-General considers that a special representative is not required at this time,'' the U.N. Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan's spokesman, Mr. Fred Eckhard, said on Thursday.

He said Mr. Annan had informed Mr. Shah and thanked him for his contribution.

Mr. Shah was appointed in February 1998 to maintain dialogue with the Iraqi Government and defuse the frequent crises over the activities of the U.N. arms inspection body, UNSCOM.

Last August, he was put on part time basis as he had little to do after arms inspectors were kicked out by Baghdad.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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