The United Nations announced this evening that a two member security team has arrived in Iraq to liaise with occupation authorities on any future return of UN international staff.
Facing increasing pressure for direct elections in Iraq, the White House said earlier today President George W. Bush wants a quick decision from the UN on sending a team to Iraq to look at the issue.
Mr Bush met briefly last night with Mr Lakhdar Brahimi, a senior UN official who Washington wants to play a leading role in Iraq. Mr Brahimi also met Secretary of State Colin Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and so far has resisted US pressure to go to Baghdad.
The UN pulled out of Iraq in October following two bomb attacks that killed 22 staff and visitors, including UN mission chief Sergio Vieira de Mello.
After scorning the United Nations for not having supported the US-led invasion, Washington wants UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to salvage plans for a transfer of power to Iraqis by a June 30th deadline and send experts to Iraq.
Mr Annan is expected to announce next week whether the electoral team will go to Iraq and most diplomats are virtually certain of a positive reply. The group is to study the feasibility of direct elections, as Shiite leaders want, or make alternate proposals.
This mission, also requested by the US-selected Iraqi Governing Council, is not to arrive in Baghdad before next month.
"We're hoping for a quick response from the United Nations on the request by the Governing Council," White House spokesman Mr Scott McClellan said.