UNITED NATIONS, Nov 20: Upset over the dismissal of allegations against United Nations top investigator Dilip Nair, the UN Staff Union on Friday expressed their "lack of confidence" in the senior management at the world body.

The Union's Staff Council adopted a resolution requesting a copy of the report that led to Annan's exoneration of Nair earlier this week.

However, Rosemarie Waters, president of the 5,000 members Staff Union, dismissed reports that the Union was ready to pass a no confidence motion against the beleaguered UN Chief Kofi Annan. "We still have confidence in the secretary general and we support him fully," she said.

"It was never the intention for anyone to malign the secretary-general or suggest there was no confidence in him - at least not from his staff," said Ms Waters after the vote.

"He is in a very difficult job under very difficult circumstances but we continue to have hope that he is doing his best. We only want his senior management to exhibit the transparency and accountability that he has proscribed for the organization."

A resolution adopted earlier this year by the union's executive body called for an examination of UN watchdog Dilip Nair's recruitment and promotion of staff following anonymous allegations he was favouring Indian nationals, as well as alleged corrupt practices in his office and other "misconduct" by Nair. The Staff Council's resolution also informed the United Nations "of the lack of confidence in the senior management and requested that they look into enhanced accountability and transparency," she said.

"The perception of senior management is very clear. It is that they are not transparent and they are not held accountable for what they do," Waters said, adding a staff survey earlier this year reflected this assessment and the lack of integrity among senior management.

The union's anger over Nair follows disagreements between UN employees and management over a host of issues, including the return of UN staff to Iraq and the reform of personnel-management practices.