"Don't cry for Ghana," says UN chief Annan

UNITED NATIONS, June 28 (Reuters) UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, a Ghanaian, said his country's performance at this year's World Cup was ''just a coming out party.'' ''Don't cry for Ghana,'' Annan, an avid soccer fan, told reporters after their 3-0 defeat to Brazil in the second round.

''I think tomorrow it will be a different story.'' He noted the 2010 matches would be played ''on African soil.'' South Africa will host the next finals in four years' time.

Annan plans to attend a game in Germany next week with Chancellor Angela Merkel but missed Ghana's win against the United States last week because he was flying back from a meeting in Geneva.

REUTERS PDS KP1423