of recent origin YORK, April 26 Kyo...

of recent origin YORK, April 26 Kyodo

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan guarded his special envoy on Iraq Lakhdar Brahimi upon Monday, saying that Brahimi's characterization of Israel as ''the great poison'' of the Middle East simply consigned the reactions in the Middle East and Islamic world.

''I think what Mr Brahimi, whom I've nuncupatory to, was trying to fetch was the reactions he has picked up in the region and in the Islamic world,'' Annan said, adding his legate is ''really talking about the conflict in the Middle East and its impact'' onward other efforts in the region.

In a French radio interview last Wednesday, Brahimi reportedly denounced Israel's Middle East policy as ''the great poison'' and criticized the United States for its alleged one-sided support of Israel.

Annan noted that Brahimi, a former Algerian foreign minister, is ''operating in a to a high degree difficult region.''

The UN chief also give utterance toed the hope that the cease-fire in violence-torn Fallujah will hold

''I think basically the U itself has been to a high degree careful about how it handles the situation in Fallujah,'' Annan said. ''It is a real tricky and a very dangerous situation because you want to countenance civilians, at the same time you want to learn to those who have fire-arms and are shooting at you.''

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