Q: Mr. Secretary, your comment when international aid workers are killed in this bombing campaign, I think it's important. Is it possible for you to comment?

SG: I thought you were waiting for the President of the Security Council. Let me say that in fact the Council members raised it. And they all offered their deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of those aid workers who died, and of course, stress the fact that we need to do all we can to protect innocent civilians in the struggle. And of course, for the UN, it's a hard blow. Yesterday, it was officers in Georgia, and of course last night it was Afghanistan. So it's something that is of great concern to me and the staff in this Organization.

Q: On the humanitarian situation in general, can we presume that it's now much more complicated to get aid there because of the ...

SG: Yes, it is complicated. As you know, we already had difficulties getting the trucks and drivers who would go in. And with the current situation, that's become a bit more difficult. However, we are continuing our attempts to get trucks in, but it is much more difficult because as you can understand, in this situation, not many truck drivers want to drive in there.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, is there anything more that the United Nations can do to try and protect civilians who are working for the UN or UN agencies in Afghanistan?

SG: I think, obviously, we've taken all the necessary precaution we can and those undertaking the operations have also assured us that all effort will be made to avoid civilians and that their efforts will be targeted and focused on the alleged perpetrators. And I hope that precaution will minimize civilian involvement.

Q: Your address yesterday mentioned that you would like to see a political solution to this conflict. Their bombing campaign is underway again today. Is there anything that troubles you about what's happening and was there anything in the US letter to the Security Council that you would be concerned about? The letter mentions the US reserves the right to go after other countries or organizations.

SG: I think on the political front, the UN has been engaged in this for quite a long time, as you may know, through the 6 + 2 meetings and other efforts. And my own envoys have been very active in the region trying to bring the Afghans, get the Afghans to work together and create a broad-based government. We have always maintained that there's no military solution in Afghanistan and that the Afghans have to come together and form a government. We would also need the support and cooperation of the regional and the neighbouring governments, who have not always pulled together and have worked in opposite directions. We will continue our efforts and that will be part of the mandate of Mr. [Lakhdar] Brahimi [Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan] now that he is coming back on board.

On the question of the US letter, I think the one sentence which has caused some anxiety amongst the membership, which I've also asked about, was the question that they may find it necessary to go after other organizations and other states. But the US has indicated that this is not a predictor of any intentions that it intends to take, but basically a statement that they are at early stages and keeping their options open. And I think the White House Spokesman addressed this question yesterday. But that is one line that disturbed some of us.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, Mr. Brahimi has just been in Geneva holding meetings on this political issue. Have you gotten any readout from him on efforts to move ahead this political process and are you encouraged that something might be in the works?

SG: I think we have to give him a bit of time. He just came on board, he's consulting widely in Europe and he'll be here by the end of this week and we'll continue our consultations.

Q: People say you're a favourite to win the Nobel Prize even though I seem to say that to you every year, but have you heard any inside word on that?

SG: I see you still believe in rumours. [laughter] *****