The investigation examined the UN's oil-for-food programme for Iraq which allowed Saddam Hussein to trade oil for civilian goods during sanctions in the 1990s.

It found insufficient evidence to show that Mr Annan was aware of his son Kojo's work with Swiss contractor Cotecna but criticised the UN leader over an "inadequate" inquiry into the case.

This comes after Mr Annan announced plans for the largest reform of the UN in its 60-year history.

What is your reaction to the oil-for-food report?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

The truth, whatever your politics, should be important to all of us PM, NYC, US

I happen to respect Kofi Annan, believe in his honesty, and don't believe he should be penalized for his son's actions. Nobody is perfect, and I trust he will learn from his mistakes. What I see as very hypocritical, however, is the willingness to sweep this matter under the carpet. Indeed, some on this site seem to resent this matter being investigated at all.

I suspect it has to do with political persuasion. The truth, whatever your politics, should be important to all of us. I wonder how many of us would be willing to accept the mere word of someone we differ with politically, and would readily dismiss any inquiry into alleged misbehaviour in that instance?
PM, NYC, US

UN out of the US and US out of the UN!
Jonathan Granato, Seattle, USA

People are quick to criticise the UN and praising the US. Why not criticise both of them or at least praise both of them for their effort? The UN is a huge organisation - of course there will be flaws, but so is the US, they also made mistakes about the war and the WMDs. Don't let individuals distract you from the goal. We need peace !
Meshack, Cape Town

I hope that the oil for food investigation report will not affect the UN reform policy of Kofi Annan and after the reform UN will be in a better position to solve the global problems.
Tawakal Khan, Jalalabad, Afghanistan

Reform specifically that of the Cold War era five members UN Security Council, is needed. It may be that China and Japan have a greater role in the future, though, in light of China's human rights record, perhaps not for several years. In response to the current crisis, I have no reason to believe or disbelieve that Kofi Annan knew nothing of his son's actions. He would not be found guilty even by a balance of proof decision.
Andrew , Leichhardt, Australia

It's time for the UN to clean house, and restore itself to its proper place Brian Keltner, Colorado

Under Mr Annan's administration, the United Nations had become a toothless tiger. Now, amid these new allegations of corruption (and one can imagine other improprieties existed that never made it to the light of an investigation), that tiger has developed shifty eyes. It's time for the UN to clean house, and restore itself to its proper place as formidable arbiter of world affairs. And it had better be restored to that place, if for no other reason than to keep the United States from kicking it around at will.
Brian Keltner, Colorado, USA

The UN should know that with increased power comes increased scrutiny. It appears the UN passed this test, but only barely.
Mark, Boston, US

The reforms of the UN are now, rightly, the biggest issue on the agenda for both the UN and Kofi Annan. Hopefully media attention will now be focused on these more important matters.
Jonathan Daly, Glasgow, UK

Although cleared in this incident it was bad timing for the UN. The radical right wing in the US has the UN firmly in their sights (see the appointment of John Bolton) and I fear for the future of this institution.
Dan Stewart, USA

No wonder confidence is sadly diminished Ron Reece, Blackmore, Essex

No wonder many of us have little respect for the UN. What with the bureaucracy and barely concealed corruption, coupled with the enormous costs, of which the US contributes over 25%, no wonder confidence is sadly diminished.
Ron Reece, Blackmore, Essex

Thank God that the Secretary General is cleared of any involvement in the UN food-for-oil programme. There are those in New York who would like the UN chief out simply because he did not support the war in Iraq. Please continue the UN reforms and efforts to support democratisation in Africa.
Mathias Kulubya, London, UK

What do you expect when you let the UN investigate itself? The USA pays something like 25% of all the UN's bills. If it were up to me I would withhold payment, again, until an independent system of accounting is put in place for this corrupt institution.
Michael, Chicago, USA

Hope the UN will now be left alone to face its many difficult challenges.
Ayo Ojutalayo, Mableton, Georgia USA

I am glad the report clears Annan's name Eric, Victoria, Canada

This report should not distract from the larger issue with the UN, which is attempting to regain its position as mediator of world affairs after the Iraq invasion. A stronger UN would be able to prevent unilateral military action by powerful nations like the United States or China. I am glad the report clears Annan's name so that we can return to examining his reform package and strengthening the UN.
Eric, Victoria, Canada

Why would Annan be responsible for something that his son did? This is a non-issue, being talked up in the media because Annan dared to suggest America's invasion of Iraq might have been illegal under international law.
Petkov, V. Turnovo, Bulgaria

Kofi Annan has done more for the UN in 8 years than the rest of the previous SGs put together. He is a noble statesman and ...a fallible human. He will learn from his management mistakes in this case and implement lasting change, as he has proven in the past.
Brett Dorney, Old Basing, Hants, UK

Annan has to go. If he didn't know of his son's work with Cotecna, he is guilty of gross incompetence at the very least.
Peter Earl, Lingfield, Surrey

Hopefully now the focus can shift to more pressing matters such as the imminent reform of the UN Olo Ihonde, New Jersey

Mr Annan has held himself up to exemplary standards. It was only a matter of time before he was cleared of these allegations. Hopefully now the focus can shift to more pressing matters such as the imminent reform of the UN.
Olo Ihonde, New Jersey

Yes, Kofi Annan has been exonerated of wrongdoing, but on the other hand the report does point out that he seems to have been found wanting in dealing with the issue. This is not the leadership the organisation should settle for, especially given the much needed reform of the U.N which Annan has called for. Annan should give the UN this new start by resigning.
Jason Robinson, Dublin, Ireland

Kofi Annan has always seemed rigidly honest in all his dealings with everybody, not failing to fault the US for its misdeeds. But in his pursuit of honesty around the world, he seems not to have looked into his own organisation or his own family.
Thomas Kent du Pre, Pawling, New York, USA

Kofi has been one of the rare Secretary Generals to publicly criticise the Security Council's permanent members - the US in particular - and this 'scandal' is the perfect opportunity - unfortunately - for a strengthening of the anti-UN campaign underway in the States. If the oil-for-food scandal is allowed to derail Annan's massive reform package, the world body will be irrevocably damaged, and the Yanks will have made one more conquest.
Mark Rushton, Oxford, Canada

Sorry. A report prepared by the UN for the UN. Get real. How independent is that?
Fred Constantine, Montreal, Canada

Kofi Annan is an outstanding and courageous Secretary General. There are many who would like to see him fall. Not even the greatest are above criticism, and any shortcomings he may, in the matter of the oil-for-food programme, have been shown to have should be viewed in this light.
John, Bideford, UK