A two-person team from the United Nations arrived in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad Friday for talks with the coalition on various security matters, a UN spokesman announced.

The team, comprising a military adviser and a security coordinator, has a primary purpose of communicating with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and the coalition forces, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a press briefing.

"This is very important in achieving enhanced safety and security for our local United Nations personnel, as well as that of UN premises," he said.

He added that the opening of a direct line of communication with the coalition on security matters "is necessary for the planning for the safety and security of UN personnel, activities and assets in Iraq and for an eventual return of UN international staff to Iraq."

A separate field security assessment will be needed should UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan decide to send in an electoral team, Dujarric noted.

In talks on Monday, Iraqi and coalition officials asked the UN chief to consider dispatching an advisory team to Iraq to examine the feasibility of elections -- as well as possible alternatives --before the hand-over of sovereignty at the end of June.

Dujarric also confirmed that Robert Blackwell of the US National Security Council had invited UN Special Adviser Lakhdar Brahimi for consultations Thursday in Washington.

The meeting, which took place in the White House and included National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell, focused on Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2004)