US says can meet most demands on Iraq resolution

9.30pm


BRUSSELS - The United States voiced confidence on Wednesday that it could "accommodate the requests and the views" of most of the UN Security Council's 15 members in the resolution on Iraq now under consideration.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, speaking in Brussels, said the resolution would provide for a mandatory review of the US-led multinational force's mandate in Iraq after 12 months -- or sooner if the Iraqi government sought it.

The United States and Britain on Tuesday submitted a second draft of a resolution which would give Iraq considerable authority over its security and economy. However, Security Council diplomats said they wanted more specifics on sovereignty for the new Baghdad government which takes power on June 30.

Asked if compromises were possible to win backing for the resolution, Armitage said: "We believe that we are able...in the resolution to accommodate the requests and the views of most of the 15 members of the Security Council".

The draft does not stipulate a date ending the mandate of the multinational force, now about 160,000-strong, but says it would expire after Iraq drafts a new constitution and elects a government, tentatively scheduled late in 2005 or early 2006.

"The multinational force mandate will be addressed following general language," Armitage told a news conference after talks with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

"There will be a provision in the resolution for a review, a mandatory review, after 12 months or sooner if the interim Iraqi government were to ask for it."

Some countries at the United Nations are insisting that the resolution should make clear Iraqi troops have the right to refuse a military order from the US command.

"Regarding whether Iraqis could refuse to participate in an operation or not: of course, as a sovereign government, they would have to be able to refuse," Armitage said.

"But these are the kind of things that are worked out on the ground between the MNF (multinational force) commander and the sovereign government," he added, indicating that the right of refusal need not be spelt out in the resolution.

- REUTERS


Herald Feature: Iraq