UNITED NATIONS, May 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The number of allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation made by and about UN personnel in 2004 was more than double the number reported in 2003, a development that is deeply distressing, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Thursday.

    "The total number of 121 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse registered in 2004 was more than double the 53 allegations reported in 2003. The increase in allegations is deeply troubling," Annan said in a report to the General Assembly.

    He said the recorded increase may result in part from the newly implemented measures to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation to sexual abuse, which encourage alleged victims to come forward.

    The report said 16 allegations, ranging from inappropriate verbal conduct to sexual assault and rape, were reported from all UN entities other than the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

    The other 105 allegations came from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and its 77,330 peacekeeping personnel. "Forty-five percent of those allegations involved sex with minors and 15 percent involved rape or sexual assault," it said.

    Thirty-five percent of the allegations against peacekeepers involved prostitution with adult women and the remaining 6 percentinvolved other forms of sexual exploitation and abuse.

    A special committee of the General Assembly is discussing a report by Prince Zeid Al Hussein, Jordan's UN ambassador, which put forward a series of measures to eliminate wrongdoings by peacekeepers. The measures include withholding salaries of the guilty and requiring nations to pursue legal action against perpetrators. Enditem