COALITION SEEKS SECURITY COUNCIL'S SUPPORT

Edition: 322

The United States, Britain and Spain presented a proposal to the United Nations Security Council last week, to legitimise the coalition military presence in Iraq and the reconstruction of the country under U.S. control, and to lift the sanctions which were imposed on Iraq over a decade ago. The proposal received a cautious response from the U.N., although the meeting was described by some of those present as “constructive” and “positive”, and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder sent an amicable message to the U.S. authorities in what is seen as an attempt to heal the wounds which opened between the two countries in the run-up to the Iraqi conflict. Britain and the U.S. are seeking United Nations backing for a military presence in Iraq for an initial period of 12 months, although U.S. Secretary for Defense Donald Rumsfeld says no final date can be set for coalition forces to leave the country and anybody who thinks they know how long the military would remain in Iraq is fooling themselves. It is understood that if the Security Council supports the proposal, authorisation for the administration of Iraq would be given for 12 months, but as London and Washington have the power of veto no resolution could be approved which would prevent the initial period being extended.