UNITED NATIONS, March 17: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Tuesday that the UN Security Council resolution could adopt a new resolution on Iraq reaffirming mandate for a UN team that would also deal with the issue of security and possibly a multinational force.

Talking to reporters at the headquarters, Mr Annan said: "I think we are all faced with a very difficult situation in Iraq, that we are doing our best to stabilize and to work with the people of Iraq to bring stability and to ensure that in time there will be a democratically elected government."

"But we do have major hurdles ahead of us. Security is still a problem. And I think it is going to require concerted international efforts; countries coming together and pooling their efforts to make this possible in Iraq", he added

"I think we need to work together for the sake of stability, for the sake of peace, and for the Iraqi people," he said. Asked whether UN has a credibility problem in Iraq, Mr Annan said: "I don't think it is so much a credibility problem for the UN as internal politics in Iraq.

We sent a team that did a good report which we gave to the Iraqis and they had to digest it and then come back to us with their reaction to the report. I have made it clear that we are prepared to go back and assist should they want us to do so, and I am waiting for them to let us know."