Annan rejects calls for his resignation
UNITED NATIONS Kofi Annan is rejecting calls for his resignation, vowing to "carry on" at the helm of the United Nations for the next two years. Five House lawmakers are backing last week's call by a Republican senator for Annan to resign amid allegations of corruption in the U-N's oil-for-food program.
Norm Coleman says Annan has presided over the "greatest fraud and theft" in U-N history. President Bush also has refused to back Annan.
But no such clamor seems to exist outside the United States.
Britain's prime minister has given Annan a strong endorsement, praising the U-N chief for doing "a fine job." The leaders of France and Spain also have telephoned support.
Annan said today he plans to reform the focus of his last two years in office.
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