UNITED NATIONS, March 10: Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for a fully inclusive government in Iraq and an end to mass detention, torture and extra-judicial killings, pledging full United Nations support for such efforts to bring peace and stability to the country.

As demonstrated by the heinous bombing of the shrine of Imams Al Hadi and Al Askari in Samarra and its aftermath, sectarian violence has emerged as a main threat to the security and stability of Iraq, Mr Annan said in his report to the UN Security Council on Thursday.

He also underlined the need for a dedicated protection force to enable the UN to carry out its political and humanitarian activities in a country where terrorists bombed its Baghdad headquarters in 2003, killing Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello and 22 others.

Mr Annan stressed that while political facilitation would remain a priority this year for the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq , activities in other key areas of its mandate, particularly reconstruction and development, would be strengthened.