UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says elections scheduled for next January in Iraq are still "technically possible".

Annan told reporters on Thursday that security must improve before the United Nations can send in more personnel to help with the planning.

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher says the US wants the United Nations to send more personnel to Iraq for next year's election. He adds that US-led forces in Iraq will protect UN workers.

In another development, US State Secretary Colin Powell says the US will respect the Iraqi election results if the voting is free.

(CRI October 22, 2004)