UNITED NATIONS, Nov 21: United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday said the world body could establish a regional office in Jordan or Cyprus to focus on activities in Iraq, including helping the country through elections to self-government.

Speaking to reporters following a luncheon he hosted for the UN Security Council members, Mr Annan said Baghdad was still too insecure for the UN staff to return, but the UN was examining how it might help the Iraqi Governing Council from outside the country, with workers making regular visits to Iraq.

“There would be constant back and forth and direct consultations with some people in Iraq,” Mr Annan said.

He said he also planned to appoint someone to handle UN operations on the ground “fairly shortly” and then a replacement “in the-not-too-distant future” for top UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was among the 22 people killed in the Aug 19 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.