American soldier dies of wounds as Bremer, Annan set to discuss return of UN to Iraq

Published January 19th, 2004 - 03:00 GMT

A US soldier injured in a roadside bombing last week has died of his wounds, according to the US command Monday. The military said the soldier died Sunday from injuries sustained in the Friday attack near the Iraqi city of Samarra.

Meanwhile, the top US official in Iraq, Paul L. Bremer is to seek a return of the United Nations to Iraq.

In addition, during talks with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York, Bremer is expected to discuss the US plan for a return to Iraqi sovereignty by the end of June.

The US administrator will be accompanied at the meeting by Adnan Pachachi, the head of the US-picked Iraqi Governing Council (IGC).

The UN chief withdrew all staff from Baghdad after a massive car-bomb attack on UN offices last August. He has said the UN could help, but only if given a role appropriate with the risks involved.

Last August, a huge explosion rocked the area around a hotel housing the UN headquarters in northeast Baghdad. The UN Special Representative in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, was among at least 20 people who were killed.

At his meeting in New York, Bremer is expected to try to persuade Annan to support a US plan to set up an unelected government in Iraq by July. (Albawaba.com)