Washington has called for a vote this week on a revised resolution that would set a Dec. 15 deadline for Iraq's Governing Council to present a timetable for drafting a constitution and holding elections.
But the new U.S. draft doesn't meet the key demand of France, Germany, Russia and Secretary-General Kofi Annan for a quick handover of power to an Iraqi provisional government within months.
According to The AP, the resolution would authorize a multinational force led by the United States.
The resolution is likely to get the minimum nine "yes" votes needed for approval.
The revised resolution would give the United Nations a larger role in Iraq's political transition to a democracy, but the world body would not be able to act independently of the U.S.-led coalition now running the country as Annan has sought.
The Bush administration revised the draft for a third time in hopes of addressing the concerns of key council nations and sending a unanimous message to Iraqis and the international community on the Security Council's vision for postwar Iraq.
The initial reactions were mixed. Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer called the draft "a step in the right direction." On his part, France's Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin commented that more analysis was needed of the changes.
China and Russia both said they hoped there would be room for changes. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
