Bush snubs Annan during Washington visit

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was pressed Thursday to do more in Iraq, while at the same time he was being snubbed by the U.S. president. Annan, on a visit to Washington, was pointedly not invited to meet with Bush at the White House, apparently in response to what many in the Bush administration see as a refusal by the UN to do more to help Iraq prepare for upcoming elections. Annan brushed aside the ongoing quarrel with Bush over Iraq. "I don't feel snubbed," he told reporters. But even outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell was stingy in his praise of the world body's efforts in support of Iraq's election. "The secretary general reports that he is on track with respect to the planned efforts that the UN is making -- and is expecting to make -- in support of the independent election commission," said Powell. Only about two dozen UN staffers are currently in Iraq. [more]

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