"Above all, the UN involvement does bring legitimacy, which is necessary for the country, for the region and for the peoples around the world," Annan told reporters before a closed meeting with members of the Security Council.

Annan said discussions at the meeting would focus on developments on the ground in Iraq and possible post-conflict scenarios, "regardless of how the war will end."

The secretary general reiterated that he expected the United Nations to play an "important role" in Iraq's reconstruction, both in the fields of "political facilitation" as well as humanitarian aid and human rights.

SPACE.WIRE