United Nations, Dec 4 : The powerful European Union (EU) threw its political weight behind UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, under attack from right-wing American lawmakers who are demanding his resignation, but the US refused to express confidence in him.

Dirk Jan van den Berg, UN Ambassador of Netherlands which currently holds the EU presidency, met Annan yesterday to express full backing of the EU. Later, he told reporters that he expressed support to him in the task of reforming of the world body in the wake of the high panel's report.

But, despite overwhelming support for Annan among the 191 members of the world body, the US administration has refused to express confidence in him and right wing conservative media and politicians continue to demand his resignation. The 116-member Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the largest group in the United Nations, is also expected to meet next week to publicly express full confidence in Annan, diplomats said.

The NAM meeting would come close on the heels of the 54-member African group expressing full support and confidence in Annan, who is form Ghana, in a letter sent to him.

But, diplomats said, the move in the NAM is to issue a public statement which would be more effective than sending a letter.