U.N. offers to aid new Iraqi leaders

UNITED NATIONS, April 6 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has sent congratulations to newly elected Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, emphasizing the need for national unity.

Annan said in a statement issued Wednesday through his spokesman at U.N. World Headquarters in New York unity was a goal the world organization has been seeking with redoubled resolve since the Iraqi elections in January.

The secretary-general pledged the United Nation's help in writing a constitution that cements reconciliation.

"The secretary-general welcomes the commitment of Iraq's new leadership to working towards national unity through peaceful democratic means," said the statement, issued after the election of Talabani and vice-presidents Sheikh Ghazi Al-Yawar and Adil Abdul Mahdi by the Transitional National Assembly.

"The United Nations stands ready to support the reconstruction of Iraq, including by providing any needed assistance to its constitution-making process," the statement added. "To that end, the secretary-general and Iraq Special Representative Ashraf Qazi look forward to working with Iraq's newly elected leaders and other representatives, with a view to further promoting dialogue and national reconciliation."