The US was yesterday pushing for a vote on a new draft of its United Nations resolution on Iraq, which aims to give the interim Iraqi government authority to manage the country in the months before the first elections are held, while a US-led multinational force helps to keep the peace. The US is confident that recent changes in its resolution - which has been re-written four times in two weeks - will help it gain unanimous support. France has argued that the resolution should give the interim Iraqi government substantial control over US-led forces, including the right to veto "sensitive offensive operations".
The new draft stops short of giving Iraq veto power but promises "a full partnership between Iraqi forces and the multinational force, through close co-ordination and consultation". The new draft also includes a reference to a new relationship between the US-led forces and the interim government, as outlined in letters to the Security Council by the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and the interim Iraqi prime minister, Iyad Allawi.
Germany's ambassador, Gunter Pleuger, told reporters: "I think we have reached a stage where the resolution has a very good text. Of course, in the end you have to find a compromise, but my feeling is we have found a compromise."
France's ambassador, Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, said: "I think things are going in the right direction."
President Vladimir Putin of Russia said: "We have every reason to think this could culminate in a positive result."
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/08/1086460298006.html?oneclick=true
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