UNITED NATIONS, Oct 18: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, is reluctant to send his staff back to Iraq calling the situation in the country “too risky” despite the a Security Council resolution from USA asking the world body to play a role in the political affairs of the country.

“The security situation does not permit us to send any additional staff into Iraq,” the secretary general’s spokesman Fred Eckhard said on Friday.

Mr Annan, he said, would carry out his duties under the resolution, “bearing in mind his special responsibility for the security of his staff.”

The 15-member UN Security Council unanimously adopted a US sponsored resolution on Thursday that gives the United Nations scope to play a political role in ushering Iraq towards full sovereignty. The document also appeals for more troops and cash to help the US occupation.