Related: Annan hopes for US role in planned UN operation in Darfur
    UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Thursday the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan and the nuclear dispute involving Iran would be among the key issues discussed during his meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush next week.

    Speaking to the press in New York, Annan also said Cote d'Ivoire would be on the agenda during Monday's meetings with U.S. officials in Washington.

    He emphasized the importance of addressing strife-torn Darfur, a region which earlier this month Annan said needed a UN peacekeeping operation to take over from the African Union (AU) force currently there.

    Annan also predicted that talks would touch on the Iranian issue, the situation in Iraq and the Middle East, as well as the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad that have sparked violent protests worldwide.

    In addition to conferring with Bush, the secretary-general will have a separate working lunch with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice before returning to New York. Enditem