UNITED NATIONS, Sept 14: United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Wednesday that many leaders he met in the Middle East during his recent visit believed that the US-led invasion of Iraq had brought disaster to the region.

“Honestly, most of the leaders I spoke to felt that the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath has been a real disaster for them. They believe it has destabilised the region,” Mr Annan said at a news conference in New York.

He stressed that the timing of United States withdrawal was now a key issue but opinion in the region remained divided on how it could be achieved.

“Many leaders felt that the Americans should stay until the situation improves and that, having created the problem, they cannot walk away. Then, you have another school of thought, particularly in Iran, that believes that the presence of the US is a problem and that the US should leave and that, if the US were to decided to leave, they would help them leave.”

“So, in a way, the US has found itself in the position where it cannot stay and it cannot leave.”