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Annan meets

Singaporean

leaders

SINGAPORE: United Nations Secretary-General Kufi Annan met Singaporean leaders on Monday during an official visit here as part of a regional tour which include his first trip to UN-administered East Timor.

Annan, who arrived here on Sunday for the three-day visit, held talks with Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tomg, President S R Nathan and Foreign Minister Shannugam Jayakumar.

He is scheduled to deliver a speech at a local think-tank on "Global values Ñ the United Nations and the rule of law in the 21st century".

The visit is part of a two-week tour of Asia and the Pacific to emphasise the need to involve ordinary people in the debate on globalisation, UN official said.

Annan leaves for Jakarta on Tuesday to meet with leaders there before visiting East Timor, which has been under United Nations administration since November following violence which marred an overwhelming vote for independence from Indonesia.ÑAFP