United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Thursday that he would order the evacuation of all the remaining 30 UN international staff from Iraq if the security situation there continues to deteriorate.

"If it deteriorates further, we will not hesitate to pull everyone out," Annan told reporters after having his monthly luncheon with the 15 Security Council members.

"We monitor it on a daily basis and as long as the security situation permits a small group to carry on this work, we will do it," he stressed.

The number of the UN international staff has been reduced to around 30 this week from 86 on the order of Annan, following a second bombing attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad late last month.

Before the first bombing on Aug. 19, the world body had more than 600 foreign staff in the war-torn country.

The deadly attack killed more than 20 people, including top UN envoy Sergio Vieirade Mello, and forced Annan to slash the UN presence there.

Annan said the remaining staff were doing essential work on the humanitarian and other activities, staying in touch with key partners on the ground.

Currently, an independent team led by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari is in Baghdad to look into the two terrorist attacks under the instruction of Annan.

Earlier Thursday, Annan reiterated his call for a secure environment for the UN to operate in Iraq.

"Without that secure environment," he emphasized, "it's going to be extremely difficult for us to take on major responsibilities."
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 3, 2003)