Call for U.N. to withdraw staff from Iraq

[Jon8503]

2004UNITED NATIONS - Two organizations representing more than 60,000 United Nations staff members urged Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday to pull all U.N. staff out of Iraq because of the “unprecedented” risk to their safety and security.

In a joint letter to Annan, the staff organizations cited a dramatic escalation in attacks in Iraq and said the United Nations regrettably “has become a direct target, one that is particularly prone to attacks by ruthless extremist terrosist factions.

“Just one staff member is one staff member too many in Iraq,” they said. “We ... appeal to your good judgment to ensure that no further staff members be sent to Iraq and that those already deployed be instructed to leave as soon as possible.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6192127/