THE UN: The US and British governments yesterday submitted to the UN Security Council in New York a draft resolution on Iraq which would endorse a handover of limited sovereignty on June 30th, but gives the US continuing control of security. Conor O'Clery in New York reports
The text was circulated hours before President Bush made a prime-time speech last night seeking to reassure the world on his plans for a democratic Iraq with broad international support.
Diplomats at the UN say the atmosphere in the 15-member Security Council, which was bitterly split over the Iraq war, was "co-operative" when it met in closed session yesterday to debate the resolution.
However, France, Germany and Russia are reported to be unhappy that there is no definite date in the text for the withdrawal of the 130,000-strong US force, and want clarification of the role of Iraqi forces in anti-insurgency operations.
The resolution will likely be put to a vote after UN envoy Mr Lakhdar Brahimi returns from Iraq at the weekend, and reports next week on his efforts to persuade Iraqis to join a caretaker government.
The US is said to want a vote before Mr Bush goes to Europe to celebrate D-Day on June 6th, but Security Council members may also want to hear from the caretaker government members before giving their support.
The draft resolution seeks to create a legal basis for the US military presence by transferring "governing authority" in Iraq to a sovereign interim government by June 30th.
It would authorise a US-led multinational force (MNF) to control security after that date with a one-year renewable mandate, working with the consent and partnership of the caretaker government. The US-led force would be able to use "all necessary means" to maintain order, the resolution states, and disputes with Iraqi forces would be resolved by an Iraqi security council, which would include the Iraqi prime minister and a US and British general.
This provision could be crucial in dispelling concerns that the resolution would mean occupation by another name. A British official insisted that "Iraq will have a veto" on security operations.
The MNF will, however, only be subject to the law of their home countries, which means that US soldiers cannot be held accountable under Iraqi law or any international law for their actions even after June 30th.
Iraqi forces need not take part in military operations, but will fall under MNF orders if they do, the resolution states. The MNF would still be able to detain insurgents. Iraqi law would apply in the prisons, but Saddam would not immediately be handed over to the Iraqis.
United Nations member-states would be asked to contribute to a special protection unit for UN personnel if the resolution is passed. UN-organised elections for a national assembly would be held in December or January to form a transitional government, with full elections to follow, according to the text.
Meanwhile, the caretaker government would control Iraq's oil money with international supervision, but would have no power to make long-term contracts.
The resolution "underlines clearly that all sovereignty will be returned to the Iraqis; that the interim Iraqi government will assume total responsibility for its own sovereignty", British ambassador Mr Emyr Jones Parry said.
The German ambassador, Mr Gunter Pleuger, said the resolution would be a "new start".
The one-year limit to the mandate will enable Mr Bush to indicate to Americans that the end of the Iraq involvement is in sight, and that there is an exit strategy for US troops.
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