"Without an Iraqi entity being in place, we cannot even begin our task," the UN humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, Ramiro Lopes da Silva, told an informal meeting of UN relief agency officials and other interested parties here.

Lopes da Silva also highlighted the adverse impact on UN operations of the lack of security, which he said was producing "a siege mentality."

"A fundamental precursor to any process is the establishment of a representative Iraqi interim administration to lead the re-construction process," he stressed.

"The absence of a platform that permits the Iraqi people to express their expectations is one of the main immediate constraints in the (UN) planning process," he added.

UN special representative for Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was consulting with all sectors of Iraqi society, defined the major challenge facing the UN as being "to interpret the aspirations of the Iraqi people and respond to these needs," Lopesda Silva declared.

Turning to the security issue, he said that although the United States-run Provisional Authority had taken determined steps to address the general lack of law and order, criminals were increasingly organized, armed resistance against the coalition continued, and "lack of security continues to inhibit our action."

Due to insecurity, he said, commercial activity in Iraq is restricted as people stay at home, children are not sent to school, and a siege mentality is in evidence.

The US-led Provisional Authority was committed to improving the situation, he added, but "given the magnitude of the task and the need to retrain the Iraqi police," the situation "is unlikely to improve quickly."

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2003)