U.S. Faces Criticism from Key Powers, Annan on Iraq

[Khephra]

U.S. Faces Criticism from Key Powers, Annan on Iraq
By REUTERS

Published: October 14, 2003


Filed at 12:40 p.m. ET

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan criticized on Tuesday the new U.S.-draft resolution on Iraq for making few significant changes as France, Russia and Germany submitted amendments to speed up Iraqi self-rule.

Annan spoke to reporters as the United States told Security Council envoys to be ready to vote this week on the draft, which proposes a multinational force and a Dec. 15 date for 25-member Iraqi Governing Council to devise a timetable toward self rule, a concession to critics.

France, Germany and Russia, in six amendments obtained by Reuters, want the Governing Council, along with the United Nations and the U.S.-led occupation, to develop a more specific schedule for when Iraqis would take power. China supports the amendments, diplomats said.

But the new proposals do not do specifically insist on a date within five months for an interim Iraq government to take over before any elections as these four countries originally proposed. And the amendments do not give the United Nations a central role.

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http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-iraq-un-resolution.html