Drug Program Chief to Leave Post Next Year

The director of the U.N. drug control program, which was recently under investigation because of allegations of fraud and mismanagement, will leave his post in mid-2002, the U.N. secretary-general’s spokesman said.

Pino Arlacchi discussed the extension of his appointment, which expires Feb. 28, with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan at a meeting Friday, spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

“Mr. Arlacchi indicated that he could not continue in his post for another full term,” Eckhard said late Friday. “It was agreed that he would stay in his position until mid-2002.”