Reply #63: Looks like it was more Annan who said it, not sure of 'official' status

[htuttle]

Here:
US Bridles as UN's Kofi Annan Calls It 'Occupying Power'
Published on Thursday, April 24, 2003 by the Associated Press
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0424-06.htm

GENEVA - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called today on the U.S.-led coalition to respect international law as the "occupying power" in Iraq, drawing immediate ire from U.S. officials.

"I hope the coalition will set an example by making clear that they intend to act strictly within the rules" governing occupations, Annan told the UN Human Rights Commission.

The United States responded that it had not been established whether the coalition that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime was an occupying power under international law but that coalition forces were nevertheless abiding by international conventions.

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I guess the US disputing that label. No doubt it is...