É«¿âTV

SG: That was one of the topics I discussed with the Prime Minister. We talked about Afghanistan, the Middle East, African development, and earlier in the day I had met with the Deputy Prime Minister [John Prescott] and the Chancellor of the Exchequer [Gordon Brown] to discuss financing for development and other development issues and later on this afternoon I'll be speaking on sustainable development at the London School of Economics.

But as to your specific question you are right that I am worried. I am concerned about the tragedy going on in the Middle East and I'm not the only one. The Prime Minister shares this concern and I think it is important that we find some creative ways of breaking the impasse and getting the people back to the table. And here I'm talking of ideas beyond Mitchell and Tenet. We have tried that for a year or so but we haven't been able to move forward. The killing and the tragedy continue. And interesting ideas are being put forward, in addition to those on the Table. And I thought the statement from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia was an important one, which also should be factored in, as we try to come forward with ideas to break the impasse.

Q: I understand that you talked about Africa. Is there anything more that the United Nations or Great Britain or the Commonwealth can do to ensure free and fair elections in Zimbabwe? There doesn't seem to be much chance of that.

SG: The situation in Zimbabwe is worrying. And I believe that the people of Zimbabwe should be given a chance for a free and fair election, and once they have voted the voice of the people must be respected. It was unfortunate that the European Union monitors had to leave the country. But I would appeal to the Government of Zimbabwe not to interfere with the Process and allow the people of that country to express themselves freely and willingly at the next elections.

Q: What about the question of the human rights of the Guantanamo Bay detainees? Again, it appears that America wants to go down the unilateralist route rather than have some kind of consistent framework, for example under the Geneva Conventions.

SG: I think this is one where there has also been some disagreement. The Americans have now agreed that the Taliban prisoners are prisoners of war. The Red Cross has indicated that anyone who was arrested in the battlefield, or picked up in the battlefield, is a prisoner of war and they do not make a difference between the Al Qaida and the Taliban. And under the convention, where there is a disagreement, normally you have an independent tribunal to resolve this. And I hope that as the discussions go on we will find a way of resolving these issues. In the meantime, it is important that all prisoners be treated humanely, and I have been given an assurance by the Americans that on that score they are treating them humanely.

Q: Mr. Annan, I'd like to discuss Iraq [inaudible].

SG: I don't think that Washington has taken any decision yet as to what to do about Iraq. But I myself have this on record saying that I think that any attack on Iraq at this stage would be unwise. Thank you.