A NEWLY discovered memorandum cast doubt yesterday on Kofi Annan?s assertion that he knew nothing about the award of a United Nations contract to his son?s company.

The internal company memo says a representative discussed the contract with the UN Secretary-General and his entourage at a Francophone summit in Paris in November 1998 and was told ?we could count on their support?.

The document increased the pressure on Mr Annan as rumours swirl at UN headquarters that he may step down at a summit of world leaders in New York in September amid a growing oil-for-food scandal.

The Volcker commission, which is investigating the matter for the UN, immediately said it was reopening its inquiry into Mr Annan?s role. The panel took possession yesterday of UN records about the 1998 trip.

The memo was released by Cotecna Inspection Services, the Swiss company that employed Mr Annan?s son Kojo. He resigned shortly before the company won a lucrative border-inspection contract in Iraq in December 1998, but he continued to work as a consultant and receive expenses and payments from the firm.

Kofi Annan insists he knew nothing of Cotecna?s interest in the $10 million-a-year contract until after it had been awarded.

The memo, obtained by The New York Times, is the first contemporary document that appears to link Kofi Annan to the award of the UN contract. It was written by Michael Wilson, the son of the former Ghanaian ambassador in Switzerland and a childhood friend of Kojo Annan.