France today called for the United States to hand security in Iraq over to a United Nations-mandated multilateral force and political power to an Iraqi provisional government.
France's foreign minister, Mr Dominique de Villepin, speaking a day after Washington indicated it could consider a UN-sponsored force, said France wanted "a real international force".
"A real change of approach is needed [in Iraq]," Mr Villepin told a meeting in Paris. "We must end the ambiguity, transfer responsibilities and allow the Iraqis to play the role they deserve as soon as possible."
"The eventual (security) arrangements cannot just be the enlargement or adjustment of the current occupation forces. We have to install a real international force under a mandate of the United Nations Security Council."
The US Deputy Secretary of State, Mr Richard Armitage, said in an interview yesterday that Washington - which wants help to assure security in an increasingly insecure Iraq - might accept a UN force if the commander was an American.
But although Washington has signalled some flexibility on the military side in Iraq, it has officially refused to consider giving up control of reconstruction efforts as Mr Villepin urged.