UN team likely in Iraq within few days: Annan

He indicated that the US-led coalition in charge in Iraq had promised to guarantee security for the UN staff to work in the country, from which the United Nations withdrew three months ago.

"I believe that within a few days the team should be able to travel and start the work," Annan told reporters in Brussels.

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The UN pulled its non-Iraqi staff out of Iraq in October because of the deteriorating security situation, after an attack on August 19 on its Baghdad headquarters which killed top envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 others.

Annan announced in Paris on Tuesday that the UN was to return to Baghdad, after a three-month absence, to conduct the review on holding elections before July.

But he insisted that security remains a concern, and said a decision on sending the team would depend on guarantees by the US-led coalition in Iraq on safety measures for UN staff.

Asked Friday if security conditions were not good enough, Annan said: "I believe we are in the process of making progress," adding: "The coalition has promised me that it would do its utmost to protect the team."

An advance UN team arrived in Iraq last week to discuss security with the authorities there. On Thursday the UN special envoy to Iraq, Ross Mountain, said in Amman that he expected the team to report soon on whether it is safe.

The UN election study team has been asked for by the US, whose plan to install a government in July appointed by an unelected transitional assembly is facing growing opposition from the majority Shiite Muslim community in Iraq.

Annan underlined earlier this week that the UN mission to study the feasibility of elections did not amount to a full return of the United Nations to Iraq.

The mission will be "a team that is going in ... to give advice and then coming out. It's not a return of the United Nations," he said in Brussels on Wednesday.

And he warned: "If no agreement can be reached on that mechanism and a formula for a provisional government then I'm very much worried that there will be a continuance of division and conflict."

The June deadline for the transfer of sovereignty is part of a calendar agreed with the US-appointed interim leadership in November that also sets out a timetable for a constitutional convention and general elections during 2005.

Meanwhile, interim Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Thursday elections would be held in his country next year in March as well as at the end of 2005.

"There would be two elections," Zebari told a Bulgarian conference held by a non-governmental organisation, the Atlantic Club.

"First for members of the constitutional convention, direct elections for a constitutional convention to write a constitution, in March 2005.

"The second elections would take place at the end of 2005, under the new constitution to elect a government. We are committed to that plan."

UN Security Council nations have given a cautious welcome to Tuesday's decision by Secretary General Kofi Annan to send a team of election experts to assess the possibility of elections in Iraq.