Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov today said a new UN Security Council resolution was needed if other countries were to help the United States keep order in Iraq.
He made his call as US occupation forces continue tosuffer casualties in Baghdad in almost daily attacks that have prompted the United States to seek greater international involvement in postwar Iraq.
The Security Council is due to meet today to discussIraqi reconstruction.
"Russia believes that new Security Council resolutions are needed to give the international community the vital legal basis to take a more active role in the reconstruction process," Mr Ivanov said.
Russia, which opposed war on Iraq without UN backing,holds a permanent seat and veto power on the Security Council.
Calls also mounted in the European Union on Monday for aresolution to give the UN broader powers in Iraq to providelegitimacy for political reconstruction and peacekeeping.
French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, whosecountry led opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq, said at an EU foreign ministers' meeting that a new resolution should give the UN overall responsibility in the country.
US President George W. Bush said yesterday he would welcome more international support for helping increasesecurity in Iraq - but that he doubted a new UN resolution was necessary as a mandate for the support.