PARIS, March 29 (AFP) - France on Tuesday voiced its "full support" for embattled UN Secretary General Kofi Annan ahead of the publication of a report on the scandal-plagued oil-for-food programme in Iraq.

"As for Kofi Annan's work in general as secretary general of the United Nations, I can tell you that we offer him our full support and confidence," foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei told reporters.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the latest report from former US banking chief Paul Volcker will fault Annan for not recognising the conflict of interest over his son Kojo's work for a company contracted by the programme.

But Annan's spokesman said Monday he expected to cleared of any wrongdoing.

When asked about the report, Mattei replied: "We're waiting to see the report. For now, we don't have a copy of it. Once we have it, we can comment on it."

On Monday, the United States reaffirmed its confidence in Annan but stopped short of saying whether he was able to carry through his ambitious plans to reform the world body.

© AFP

Subject: French News