UNITED NATIONS, April 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is advocating the establishment of a United Nations office after the termination in May of the current UN mission to help strengthen the "fragile democracy" in the world's newest country.

    In his final report to the Security Council on the current UN mission, which ends on May 20, Annan noted that the country's leaders have requested such a new UN political presence.

    East Timor's leaders suggested that the new office will includefour components: an electoral assistance unit; police training advisers; military liaison officers; and civilian advisers in critical areas that require continued assistance, he said.

    They also indicated that East Timor would welcome the deployment of human rights officers to monitor and report on the human rights situation leading up to presidential and parliamentary elections to be held in 2007, Annan noted,

    Annan recommended that the new integrated UN office have a 12-month mandate, led by a special representative of the secretary-general and have up to 65 staff members. Enditem