Iraq

U.N. leader's criticism riles coalition

NEW YORK - The United States, Britain and Iraq angrily dismissed on Friday a warning from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan that a military offensive in the Sunni stronghold of Fallujah could jeopardize the credibility of upcoming elections in Iraq.

In letters dated Oct. 31 and addressed to President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Iraqi interim leader Ayad Allawi, Annan said using military force against insurgents in the city would further alienate Sunni Muslims already feeling left out of a political process largely orchestrated by Washington.

"I wish to share with you my increasing concern at the prospect of an escalation in violence, which I fear could be very disruptive for Iraq's political transition," Annan wrote.

"I also worry about the negative impact that major military assaults, in which the main burden seems bound to be borne by American forces, are likely to have on the prospects for encouraging a broader participation by Iraqis in the political process, including in the elections."

Annan's comments and criticism drew anger and frustration from U.S., British and Iraqi officials.

"I don't know what pressure he has to bear on the insurgents," Allawi said in an interview with the BBC. "If he can stop the insurgents from inflicting damage and killing the Iraqis, then he's welcome, we will do whatever he wants."

Annan pushed for diplomatic, rather than military, means in Fallujah. But Allawi said the "window is closing" for diplomacy.

Asked about Annan's concerns on Friday, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, "Frankly, we differ.

"The Iraqi government has made very clear that they do have a strategy for resolving the problems of these towns like Fallujah," Boucher said. "It's a strategy that has worked in some cases already, in Najaf and Samarra and a few other places. It's a strategy of reaching out politically to local leaders, of reasserting Iraqi government control and of moving militarily where that needs to be done, Iraqis and coalition forces together."

Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the letter with Annan in a weekend phone call, and the U.N. chief met privately on Monday with U.S. Ambassador John Dansforth. Privately, Bush administration officials said they were livid about the letter, which was sent two days before the presidential election.

U.N. officials said Annan was sensitive to the timing and concealed his written concerns from many of his staff. The contents of the letters were made public Friday in an article in the Los Angeles Times.

U.S. Cobra attack helicopters fired on insurgents operating an illegal checkpoint south of Baghdad, killing or wounding an "unknown number" of people, the military said.

Allawi, meeting European Union leaders in Belgium, urged Europe to forge a "close and strategic partnership" with Iraq and called on NATO to step up plans to train 1,000 officers a year for the Iraqi military. EU leaders responded with a nearly $40-million offer to fund elections, including training for Iraqi vote monitors.

The insurgent group al-Qaida in Iraq, led by terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, called for the release of the kidnapped executive of the CARE charity, Margaret Hassan, and promised to free her if she fell into their hands.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said his country will increase its troop contribution to the U.S.-led mission in Iraq.

Saboteurs set off an explosion damaging a gas pipeline in northern Iraq, oil officials said.

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