UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today the new US-drafted resolution on Iraq did not represent a "major shift" from previous versions but said it took into account some of his criticisms.
Mr Annan, whose objections had influenced Security Council members, said, however, he would implement whatever the council wanted him to do, providing security conditions permitted.
"Obviously, the current resolution does not represent a major shift in the thinking of the coalition," he told reporters. "However, I am grateful that they have taken into account some of my preoccupations, and of course I will implement any resolution that the council might adopt, bearing in mind the constraints that we are all aware of."
Earlier a top Russian official was quoted as saying today that Moscow wanted a series of amendments to the resolution.
Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov told Interfax news agency Russia sought a "series of additional but very important amendments".
He said Russia's position on the US draft, circulated yesterday, would be determined by "the readiness of the authors of the draft to take our considerations into account".
The United States has called for a vote this week on a new resolution that would set a December 15th deadline for Iraq's Governing Council to submit a timetable for drafting a constitution and holding elections.
But the revised US draft does not 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.
President George W. Bush's main aim in seeking a new resolution is to get more countries to contribute troops and money to stabilise and rebuild Iraq.
The resolution would authorise a multinational force - sought by some potential troop contributing nations - led by the United States.
France has ruled out using its veto - but some council members are concerned at the mixed message the council would send if the resolution was only approved by a slim margin.
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 US-led coalition now running the country as Mr Annan has sought.
Germany's Foreign Minister, Mr Joschka Fischer, called the draft "a step in the right direction," while France's Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said more analysis was needed of the changes, which essentially call for a timetable to come up with a timetable.