EU: The European Union has invited Mr Kofi Annan to attend next week's meeting of EU leaders in Brussels, in a clear gesture of support for the United Nations secretary-general, who faces a US-led campaign to drive him from office.
The Dutch EU presidency said that Mr Annan would meet the 25 leaders and hold a joint press conference with the Dutch Prime Minister, Mr Jan-Peter Balkenende, and the EU's foreign policy chief, Mr Javier Solana.
Republicans in the US Congress accuse Mr Annan of presiding over corruption involving the organisation's oil-for-food programme in Iraq.
The chairman of a congressional committee, Senator Norm Coleman, has called on the secretary-general to resign.
Europe's two permanent members of the UN Security Council, Britain and France, have already expressed support for Mr Annan.
The White House this week distanced itself from the resignation calls, saying that Mr Annan should continue in office.
