US: The United States has told member countries of the UN Security Council to be ready to vote on its new Iraq resolution after 3 p.m. (8 p.m. Irish time)today, writes Conor O'Clery in New York
The sudden deadline set by the US indicates confidence on the American side that the resolution will be backed by a majority of the 15-member council, despite the misgivings of other members and the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan.
Mr Annan told reporters at the UN yesterday: "Obviously the current resolution does not represent a major shift in the thinking of the coalition. I am on the record as stating that as long as there's an occupation, the resistance will grow."
The text of the resolution, redrafted a third time after failing to get support, would create an international force under UN control in Iraq and set a deadline of December 15th for the Iraqi Governing Council to publish a timetable for a new constitution and democratic elections.
The sticking point for many council members is that the US-led coalition would retain sovereign power in Iraq until this process is completed. France, Russia and China have argued for a quick transfer of power to a provisional government.
The December 15th deadline can be met, a spokesman for the US-sponsored Iraqi Governing Council said in Baghdad, but he added that much would depend on the security situation, which has been deteriorating steadily.
The aim of the US in tabling the motion, along with Britain and Spain, is to get UN approval for its post-war operation and thereby encourage other countries to supply finance and troops, before an Iraq donors' conference is to be held in Madrid on October 23rd.
The Americans will argue at the conference for substantial funds from third parties, but so far little substantial finance has been forthcoming.
The EU has pledged €200 million and Britain has separately promised €375 million, which pale into insignificance against the $87 billion the Bush administration is seeking from Congress for post-war Iraq.
The US is hoping that the new wording of the resolution will help other Security Council members to give their support. It gives a symbolic measure of sovereignty to Iraq by stating that the Governing Council will "embody the sovereignty of the state of Iraq".
Germany and Russia said they would propose amendments to the latest draft, but the US made clear it wants a quick vote.
"We have asked members of the Security Council to be ready to vote from 3 p.m. [local time]," said Mr Richard Grenell, a spokesman for the US ambassador to the UN, Mr John Negroponte.
As it stands, the resolution is likely to get the minimum nine Yes votes needed for adoption and France has ruled out using its veto, diplomats at the UN say.
Mr Annan said he hoped the US would work with other council members "to get as broad support as possible because I have always maintained that the council is at its best and has the greatest impact when it is united."
Two weeks ago, the UN Secretary General told council members that the UN would not send its staff back to Iraq to play a secondary political role in Iraq's transition to democracy, as outlined in the first US draft.
The UN has drastically reduced its staff in Iraq after two bombings at UN headquarters in Baghdad. Since then the security situation has worsened and a Spanish diplomat has been assassinated.
Mr Annan along with other major security council members has urged a quick transfer of sovereignty.
Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, Mr Yuri Fedotov, said Moscow plans to suggest "a series of additional but very important amendments".
China's ambassador to the UN, Mr Wang Guangya, praised the latest draft as "an improvement".