IRAQ

SMH: Annan calls emergency summit on Iraq

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has urged the foreign
ministers of all five permanent members of the UN Security Council to
meet
in Geneva this weekend to try to find a way to stabilise Iraq. Mr
Annan
told reporters in New York on Monday that he called the meeting of the
ministers - who represent France, the United States, Britain, Russia
and
China - in an attempt to heal "deep divisions" in the Security Council.

The council split over US President George Bush's decision to launch an
attack on Baghdad without the UN's approval, and it has since been
reluctant to help the US, as it battles to maintain control of the
country.