Iraq's new government has told the United Nations it wants the right to decide on the future presence of US-led forces and other security issues but in general sides with the United States.
Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said yesterday that Baghdad wanted US-led forces to stay when he addressed the UN Security Council on a US-British draft resolution on the planned US handover on June 30th.
"I stress that any premature departure of international troops would lead to chaos and the real possibility of a civil war in Iraq," Mr Zebari said.
The question of who has the final say over action by US-led forces after June 30th has become a core issue for all parties involved in the Security Council debate.
France, Russia, China and other council members have forced the United States and Britain to come up with a second draft of the resolution and say they are still not happy with it.
Mr Zebari said Iraq did not want veto power over actions by US troops but said "we should have a say in endorsing this kind of [major] operation."
He also opposed the desire of France, Russia and China to have a fixed date for the US-led force to withdraw, saying this would help those who fostered chaos. Instead he said an Iraqi government should have the right to ask them to leave.
Washington made clear again the sovereignty it is offering on June 30th will be subject to 138,000 American soldiers having the last word on any military action they deem essential.
"There could be a situation where we have to act and there may be a disagreement and we have to act to protect ourselves or to accomplish a mission," US Secretary of State Colin Powell said.