The announcement comes a week after UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan received letters from both Iraqi leaders and officials of the United States-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) requesting UN assistance with the transfer of sovereignty at the end of June as well as help with preparations for elections before the end of January 2005.

In response, Mr. Annan said he would dispatch a team led by his Special Adviser Lakhdar Brahimi and the electoral assistance team as soon as possible.

Earlier this week, the Security Council welcomed the Secretary-General's decision to send the teams to Iraq and called on all parties in the country to cooperate with them.