There are no proposals at the moment on sending UN peacekeeping troops or multinational units to promote security in Iraq in the aftermath of car bombing at UN headquarters in the country, a senior Russian official said in Moscow Thursday.

"The issue of security (in Iraq) will be discussed at the UN headquarters in New York shortly," but "there have been no proposals and no drafts on this matter," Interfax quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov as saying.

"Russia will be prepared to study and share in debate on them," said Fedotov,

The Tuesday terrorist attack on the UN office made the security of UN personnel in Iraq a very urgent issue, said he, stressing that "coalition units must provide security for the UN personnel in line with international law and their commitments under UN Security Council Resolution No. 1483."

"Security is a prerequisite for the United Nations to continue its essential mission in line with the Security Council's resolution," Fedotov added.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Wednesday a multinational force for Iraq was under discussion in a bid to promote security in Iraq.

According to Interfax, Annan will discuss with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw Thursday on the possibility of adopting a new UN Security Council resolution under which multinational units could be sent to Iraq.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2003)