UNITED NATIONS, Feb 5: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday indicated that the US-imposed deadline on Iraqi self- rule by July 1 might have to be reconsidered to forge an agreement on a provisional government.

"Our actions, our planning is all designed to make this transfer of power work on June 30, as planned," Mr Annan told reporters at the UN headquarters. "So as the UN looks at this situation, they understand that that's a goal that we all want to achieve."

Asserting that the UN had a role to play in Iraq, Mr Annan said he would send a mission as soon as its safety could be assured, but was not ready to reestablish a UN headquarters in Baghdad.

"We are not going to go back permanently now," Mr Annan added.

Mr Annan said "we will be open and talk to as many Iraqis as possible, to try and get to understand what it is that they are worried about, and perhaps try and work with them to get a consensus amongst themselves as to what mechanism would be best for the establishment of a provisional government," he said. "I think that if we can get them to agree on that it will be easier to move to the next phase, because if you don't agree on the process, the divisions and discussions will continue."

Asked when the UN team will leave for Iraq, the Secretary- General said it would go as soon as practical once security arrangements are assured. "I can't say more than that, nor can I tell you who's on the team and who's going to lead the team. What I can tell you is that we're going to send a team that is experienced, that is solid and that will be able to carry out the tasks I've assigned it," he said.

The United Nations, Mr Annan added, was not going to go back permanently just yet, but it has always assumed it would have a role in working with a provisional Iraqi government on a constitution and on national elections, perhaps in 2005.

"That's why I have an acting [Special Representative] in the region working with us, and of course the team that is going in will do what it is there to do specifically to help break this impasse, but of course it will also keep its eye out to see what the situation is on the ground for eventual return of the UN," he said, adding, "We're going to do a mission and then come out, but we'll keep an eye out."