Planned UN meeting on Iraq may be held later than 15 January - spokesman

A planned meeting between the United Nations and representatives of the Iraqi Governing Council and the United States-led Coalition Provisional Authority could be slightly delayed in order to accommodate the schedule of participants, a UN spokesman said today.

Responding to press questions, Fred Eckhard said the 15 January date mentioned by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at a recent press conference "may not be most convenient for the members of the Governing Council" so other possibilities are being examined.

The Spokesman went on to add that the Secretary-General's preference would be to hold a trilateral meeting but, if a suitable date cannot be found, sequential meetings could achieve the same results.