UN Refugee Chief Resigns (now, that's news!?)

U.N. refugee chief Ruud Lubbers resigned Sunday over sexual harassment allegations. He doesn't admit any wrongdoing (who does?).

Lubbers' resignation came two days after a meeting with Annan in which U.N. diplomats said the secretary-general offered the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (search) two choices — resign or face suspension and charges of breaking U.N. rules.

It also followed a report Friday in the British newspaper The Independent with the first detailed description of the allegations by a woman employed by UNHCR and statements from four other women who didn't file official complaints but claimed Lubbers sexually harassed them.

Lubbers, 65, initially refused to resign and insisted Friday at a news conference that Annan never asked. But after he left U.N. headquarters, Annan's office contradicted Lubbers, saying the prime topic of the meeting was his future. U.N. lawyers then started preparing charges against him, U.N. diplomats said on condition of anonymity.

In his letter of resignation, Lubbers, a former Dutch prime minister, maintained his innocence, indicating that Annan had decided it was time for him to go.

Sexual harassment is the least of Kofi's woes. The scandals enveloping the UN include rape and sexual assaulting refugees in various peacekeeping operations, plus the huge UNSCAM scandal.

Sending Lubbers into the sunset is a quick and painless way to eliminate one problem from Kofi's plate, but nothing has been done to solve the institutional deficiencies.