The United States called a vote for Wednesday on a resolution aimed at getting U.N. approval of its occupation and reconstruction of Iraq after rejecting proposals by key countries to add a timetable for self-rule.

The measure is virtually assured of the minimum nine votes needed for adoption in the 15-member U.N. Security Council. But it is unclear whether France, Germany, Russia, China and Syria will support the draft or abstain, thereby lessening the impact of the resolution.

On Tuesday, France, Russia and Germany, which opposed the war in Iraq, submitted six amendments. But they dropped previous crucial demands that the United Nations play a central role in Iraq's reconstruction and that a provisional Iraqi government take office within five months.

Still, the United States and Britain, while incorporating some suggestions, refused to yield power to a provisional Iraqi government in the coming months.

"I think we have made every effort possible to take into account the views of various delegations," said U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte after announcing he would call a vote on Wednesday afternoon.

With President Bush under pressure from the growing cost of the Iraq occupation in U.S. lives and money, the resolution could pave the way for other nations to contribute troops and cash,

Under the U.S. draft, co-sponsored by Britain, Spain and Cameroon, the 25-member Iraqi Governing Council must produce by Dec. 15 a timetable for drafting a constitution and holding elections. France and Germany had wanted a provisional government before elections are held, which the United Nations estimates could take several years.

The other key operative part of the resolution would transfer foreign troops in Iraq to a U.N.-authorized multinational force, still under U.S. leadership.

This is to give a U.N. imprimatur to nations such as Pakistan and Bangladesh that may send troops, but need political cover to serve under an occupation.

U.S. and British officials have acknowledged that adoption of the resolution was unlikely to bring large infusions of troops or cash at a donors conference on Iraqi reconstruction in Madrid on Oct. 23-24.

But diplomats said the resolution would help to legitimize the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council and the occupation of Iraq following a war the Security Council did not approve.

Nevertheless, adoption of the resolution represents a victory for Secretary of State Colin Powell, who has ushered through four revisions of the document since August, overcoming administration hard-liners who argued that a return to the United Nations was unnecessary.

One of the resolution's main critics turned out to be U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan himself, still reeling from the Aug. 19 bombing attack on U.N. offices in Baghdad that cost the lives of 22 people.

Annan said the new version of the resolution did not represent "a major shift in the thinking of the coalition" and warned that as long as the U.S. occupation continues, "the resistance will grow."

Annan made clear he had no immediate plans to send back U.N. staff, most of whom were pulled out after the blast. But he said he would consider it in the future and was gratified that this was recognized in the draft.

Under language of the resolution, Annan can delay fielding political staff in Iraq "until circumstances permit."

Lee Feinstein, acting director of the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, said criticism in the U.S. Congress of Bush's $87 billion request for Iraq contributed to the quest for a resolution.

"The administration could then plausibly argue that they are seeking to broaden the burden," Feinstein told Reuters.

Close

Today's Top News		Top China News
+China's manned space dream comes true ( 2003-10-15) +Shenzhou V blasts off into space at 9:00am ( 2003-10-15) +CPC meeting sets out reform goals ( 2003-10-14) +New Oriental appeals for ruling ( 2003-10-14) +New measures cut bureaucracy in Guangdong ( 2003-10-15)		+China's three major space launch bases ( 2003-10-15) +China's first astronaut debuts ( 2003-10-15) +Shenzhou V launch successful ( 2003-10-15) +Shenzhou V blasts off into space at 9:00am ( 2003-10-15) +New measures cut bureaucracy in Guangdong ( 2003-10-15)