UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has named ex-Afghanistan Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi special adviser on conflict prevention and resolution.
Chief U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said Thursday Annan met with Brahimi, "who has just completed an arduous assignment and needs some rest."
"The secretary-general discussed with Brahimi a new assignment as special adviser with the rank of undersecretary-general, which Brahimi accepted," the statement continued. "The scope of his responsibilities is still to be worked out. Meanwhile, we can anticipate that, as a member of the secretary-general's senior staff, Brahimi will advise the secretary-general on a wide range of issues, including situations in the areas of conflict prevention and conflict resolution.
In answer to questions from reporters, Eckhard said Annan did not offer the post of special representative in Iraq to the 70-year-old Brahimi and, "If he did I doubt Brahimi would accept."
Iraq Special Representative Sergio Vieira De Mello was among the 22 people killed in the Aug. 19 terrorist bombing of U.N. headquarters in Baghdad.
