UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said today he did not foresee a UN "blue helmet" peacekeeping force being sent to Iraq for now, but said the dispatch of a UN-approved multinational force was possible.
Speaking in Paris after talks with French President Jacques Chirac, Mr Annan told a news conference sending a UN force would be a huge task.
"I don't think that for the moment that the question of sending blue helmets has been raised. One could foresee a multinational force authorised by the Security Council," he said. Such a force could help restore stability.
Ealier Mr Annan said he was willing to send a mission to Iraq to assess whether elections can be held by mid-year, but made any mission contingent on an evaluation of security risks.
"Once I'm satisfied that the CPA (US-led authority in Iraq) will provide adequate security arrangements, I will send a mission to Iraq in response to the requests that I received," Mr Annan said in a statement.
Such precautions are required by the United Nations as a result of an attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad in August, which killed 22 people. The United Nations withdrew its international staff from Iraq in October.
Time is short for setting up elections, which are favoured by Shi'ite leaders. Decisions are needed by late February for a provisional national assembly and government to be chosen in time for a June 30th transfer of political power to Iraqis.