MADRID, Oct 23: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan opened an international donors’ conference on the reconstruction of Iraq here on Thursday with a call for aid to start flowing now even though the country remains under US-led occupation.

“We all look forward to the earliest possible establishment of a sovereign Iraqi government but the start of the reconstruction cannot be delayed until that day,” Mr Annan said at the opening of the two-day conference.

“The people of Iraq have a hard road ahead of them. Let us not leave them to travel that road alone,” he said.

Mr Annan said the conference was “a moment of hope for the future of Iraq... they are looking to this conference for a signal that the international community is indeed ready to help them to build a new Iraq.

“Iraq has just emerged from decades... of being in the tunnel of darkness,” he added, stressing the United Nations had a primary role to play in reconstruction.

The World Bank and United Nations, two co-sponsors of the Madrid event, estimate Iraq’s needs at 36 billion dollars, almost three times as much as pledges proffered to date whether in donations or loans.

The United States, which will be pledging 20 billion dollars in a separate package, is looking for as many nations as possible to contribute as much as they can to Iraq’s reconstruction.

The president of the US-installed Iraqi governing council, Ayad Allawi, offered a positive assessment of the early proceedings.

“The amount we have is very encouraging — this is an international commitment by the international community.

“Security should not be obstructing contributions from other countries because we believe it will harm security itself,” he added.

Mr Chris Patten, European Union External Affair Commissioner, said Europe was ready to answer the call even though, with the exception of Britain and Spain, its members strongly opposed the war and have been wary of providing aid until Iraq has a new government chosen by its people.

Mr Annan said he shared the hopes of organizers that the meeting would lay the foundation to put Iraq economy on a sound footing and urged countries to give generously.—AFP