MEXICO CITY, Dec 3: Mexican President Vicente Fox and President Pervez Musharraf, who arrived here on a 24-hour visit to Mexico on Thursday, joined in expressing support for embattled UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

"I know the Secretary General, Mr Koffi Annan, and I know him to be an extremely honourable man," said President Musharraf, referring to the UN chief's troubles over alleged improprieties in the UN's oil-for-food programme for Iraq when that country was under Saddam Hussein's dictatorship.

"He's already given an explanation, which I think is very, very valid, and I cannot imagine him involved in any scandal," the Pakistani leader told a joint press conference.

"On Mexico's part," said President Fox, "we view Mr Annan as person of integrity and an important leader who has taken courageous stances and promoted the UN's presence and moral authority. Therefore, he has our utmost support."

Mr Fox's and Musharraf's comments follow a call for Mr Annan's resignation by US Senator Norman Coleman, who investigated the oil-for-food programme and who claims UN officials got kickbacks from Saddam.

US President George W. Bush on Thursday called for a "full and fair and open" probe into the scandal-plagued UN oil-for-food scheme, but made no mention of Mr Coleman's urgings.

At their press conference, Mr Musharraf and Mr Fox also supported a proposal to reform the United Nations but asked for more time and study. The UN panel on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping proposal to overhaul the world body, including the Security Council, in what would be the most comprehensive UN reform since its founding in 1945. Two competing plans would expand the council to 24 members.

Mr Musharraf said he was in favour of expanding the Security Council but not with more permanent veto-wielding members, while Mr Fox said he agreed with the idea of enlarging the council on a regional basis. -AFP