"The AIDS epidemic is a real weapon of mass destruction," he said in a year-end press conference.

"Next year, I would want us to really focus on the fight against HIV/AIDS."

He said that the international community worried about banned weaponry "because it can be used to kill thousands of people and we don't want that to happen. But 8,000 are dying a day (of AIDS). What do we do?"

In recent months, Annan has repeatedly made the case that while developed nations focus concern on terrorism and banned weapons, disease and hunger are more pressing issues for those in less-developed nations.

"I would (also) want us to focus on poverty alleviation and the issue of governance and corruption," Annan said when asked by a reporter what he thought were pressing concerns for the year ahead.

"These are important issues which are on the mind of society," he said, adding they should draw international attention after the world deals with major security issues like Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

TERRA.WIRE