The following are key points of a US/UK draft UN Security Council resolution which aims to return sovereignty to Iraq on June 30th.
• The 15-nation Security Council would endorse the formation of a "sovereign interim government of Iraq" that takes office by June 30. This government is being selected by UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, in consultation with US officials.
• UN staff would help organize a national conference that would select a consultative council to aid the new government and help organise elections, among other tasks.
• Direct elections would be held no later than January 31st, 2005, for a transitional national assembly, which would draft a permanent constitution.
• The resolution would reaffirm authorisation of a US-led multinational force that would have the authority to take "all necessary measures" to maintain peace and security.
• The mandate for the force would be reviewed but not terminated after a year.
• The US military command, Iraqi forces and the Iraqi government would make arrangements to enhance coordination but the text does not say Iraqi troops can refuse a US order.
• The resolution foresees a separate force within the overall command to provide security for UN staff.
• A fund for oil and gas revenues, now controlled by the occupiers, would be handed over to Iraq. But an international advisory board would stay in place to audit accounts and assure investors and donors that expenditures were free of corruption. A review would occur after a year.
• The resolution would curtail an existing UN arms embargo on Iraq by allowing importation of weapons by either the multinational force or the Iraqi government.
• It would ask UN members and international security organisations, such as NATO, to join the multinational force and provide aid to Iraq.
• It would ask all nations to crack down on the flow of funds and other resources to any groups or individuals that might carry out terrorist attacks in Iraq.
• The resolution is silent on the future of prisons that are run by foreign forces and on the interim constitution adopted earlier this year, although diplomats say the laws are valid until a new constitution is written.
• The resolution says the Iraq and US military command would write letters to the United Nations setting out details of the military role, as well as the role of the UN protective force.