Oil-for-food scandal among worst moments: Annan.


United Nations (UN) chief Kofi Annan has named the scandal involving disgraced Australian grain trader AWB as one of the worst moments of his 10 years at the helm of the world body.
Speaking at his last news conference before stepping down as secretary-general, Mr Annan said he was dismayed when extensive corruption was uncovered in the UN's oil-for-food program for Iraq.
"Of course I hope the historians will realise that the UN is more than oil-for-food," he said.
An independent investigation found that Australia's AWB was the largest single offender, using the UN scheme to funnel kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime.
Mr Annan admitted UN staff mismanaged the program, but laid the blame squarely at the feet of companies like AWB.
"Yes, there was mismanagement," he said.
"There may have been several UN staff members who were engaged.
"But the scandal, if any, was in the capitals and with the 2,200 companies that made a deal with Saddam."
Mr Annan said his other main regret during his tenure was the UN's inability to prevent the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.
He said he was particularly proud of the UN's work on human rights and combating infectious diseases.
Mr Annan will be succeeded by South Korea's Ban Ki Moon.