UN refugee chief Lubbers resigns but maintains his innocence

After months of criticism, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan decided that UN refugee chief Ruud Lubbers had to go because of the growing controversy over allegations that the former Dutch prime minister had sexually harassed female staffers.

Lubbers didn’t go easily. He resigned yesterday but proclaimed his innocence, saying he felt insulted and accusing Annan of giving in to “media pressure”.