China joined Wednesday the UN nations, which...
China joined Wednesday the UN nations, which expressed their willing to have some changes to a U.S.-British drafted resolution on Iraq's transition, and proposed changes to it.
France, Russia, Germany and Spain were discussing Tuesday plans of power hand over to an Iraqi interim government on June 30, and particularly over the powers of the U.S.-led force and its duration of stay in Iraq. These countries were concerned about persistent attacks of Iraqi rebels on foreign forces and the U.S.-led administration in Baghdad.
Diplomats at the meeting said several countries supported many points in Chinese proposal. But they said none signed up to the entire paper.
China's U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, told reporters that the force should have a time limit and Iraqis needed to consent to any major military action.
The Chinese paper advocates giving Iraq "full sovereignty in the political, economic, security, judicial and diplomatic areas, including the power to control and dispose (of) all the natural and economic resources." Currently these phrases are not in the resolution.
The U.S.-British draft resolution would endorse the formation of a sovereign interim Iraqi government, not yet announced, but allow U.S.-led forces to take "all necessary measures" to keep the peace and fight terrorism.
