UNITED NATIONS, April 10: UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said here on Thursday “it appeared there was no functioning government in Iraq at the moment” and stressed establishing law and order must be top concern for the US-led forces in the country.

Talking to reporters a day after US forces entered Baghdad, Annan said: “We also saw the scenes of jubilation, but of course when you think of the casualties — both military and civilian — the Iraqis have paid a heavy price for this.”

Responding to a question whether Hague and Geneva conventions applied in the conflict, Mr Annan said: “I think the [Security] Council has also reaffirmed that the Hague Regulation and the Geneva Conventions apply to this conflict and that the coalition has a responsibility for the welfare of the people in this area. And I am sure that will be respected.”

Asked about the status of the Iraqi Ambassador Mohammed Aldouri to the United Nations and the conversation he had with him on Monday, Mr Annan said: “I don’t know what his status is, but I did talk to him on Monday.

“We reviewed the situation in Baghdad and what was happening. He didn’t have much information. I don’t know where he is or what his status was at the moment, but naturally we did talk about what happens, depending on the evolution of things on the ground,” Mr Annan said.

Asked whether Ambassador Aldouri seeks asylum or protection from the United Nations the UN chief said: “No, he didn’t ask for an asylum or protection. He had indicated some time earlier that he and his staff sometimes felt harassed and followed by local authorities and police? This was some time ago and I think we had raised it with the authorities and that has stopped. When I saw him on Monday he didn’t ask me for help with his status.”

Asked about the status of the UN weapons inspectors and whether the sanctions against Iraq would be lifted now that US-led coalition forces have entered Baghdad, Mr Annan said: “I think on the question of the weapons inspectors, their mandate is still valid...I would expect [Hans] Blix and [Mohammed] ElBaradei to be able to return as soon as it is possible, and I think they are with the mandate to disarm Iraq, and when the situation permits they should go back to resume their work.

As to the question of lifting of sanctions, I know there has been some preliminary talk about it but the Council has not really discussed it.”