UNITED NATIONS, April 13 (Xinhuanet) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said here Tuesday that he will decide within this week on the formation of an independent panel probing the reported oil-for-food corruption.

    "I think we are quite close," he told reporters at the entranceof the UN headquarters in New York. "I hope to be able to make theannouncement in the course of the week." Enditem