UN mandate essential to legitimise war - Annan

UN SECRETARY GENERAL Kofi Annan piled pressure on US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday with a warning that the legitimacy of any military action would be “seriously impaired” without a new UN mandate.

The crucial Security Council vote on the draft resolution tabled by Britain, the US and Spain is not expected to take place until later this week. The prospects of it being agreed received another potentially fatal blow yesterday when Russia signalled it would veto it.

Mr Annan was speaking as oil prices climbed to fresh two-year highs yesterday amid continuing uncertainly over plans for an attack on Iraq. Stock markets have been struggling as uncertainty about the looming conflict persists. In London, the FT100 has dropped through each of the psychologically-important points - known as "support levels" which City analysts predicted would mark the low point and the start of a recovery.