The United States is open to giving the United Nations a bigger role in Iraq, especially if other governments respond by offering more to peace-keeping and reconstruction, the State Department said last night.
"We're open to this prospect," spokesman Mr Richard Boucher told a briefing.
India and Russia have suggested they might consider contributing troops to help US forces in Iraq if the United Nations adjusts the current system, which gives the United States and Britain the dominant role in post-war Iraq.
France, which had previously said it could not help under current circumstances, said it could look at supporting a peace force if the United Nations had a central role.
"For us the main condition is that the central role of the UN is recognized. If there is this recognition, then we can certainly analyze, imagine some participation, the possibility of supporting a peace force but it has to truly belong to the United Nations," French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told a news conference in Mexico City.
Washington insisted on the current system, which recognizes the United States and Britain as occupying powers, after overthrowing Saddam Hussein, but it is now facing a high cost in cash and casualties as it tries to control the country.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday he had discussed the idea of a new UN mandate with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and visiting foreign ministers but the initiative was not coming from the US side.
Washington maintains that the existing arrangements, enshrined in Security Council resolution 1483, should be enough to persuade other countries to help there.
India said on Monday it would not send troops to Iraq without a UN mandate, rejecting a US request. Russia took a similar position. It said it had no plans to send forces under current conditions but may reconsider if the United Nations took an appropriate decision.