Washington: The United States has made it clear that though United Nations will have an important part to play in post-war Iraq, the main role will be that of the coalition.

"Let us be candid. It was a coalition of the willing with the US and the UK in the lead, and Australia and other nations involved that took on this task in the face of direct political opposition from a number of nations round the world," US Secretary of State Colin Powell said.

"We paid the political price, the price in blood and the price in treasure to bring about what I think is a historic result, and the Iraqi people believe is a historic result, and so I think we have some equity, some standing at the head of the class, so to speak," Powell said in an interview to the 'Canadian Broadcasting Corporation'.

"We have to make sure this goes in the right direction so that our investment pays off, pays off not with a military victory, but it pays off with a political victory, and that political victory is a new Iraqi government that is firmly based on Democratic principles and will be proud to join the family of nations of the region and the world," he said.

He said despite Canada's opposition to the US-led war, Washington harboured no hard feelings towards Ottawa.

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"The US was disappointed that it did not get the kind of support for the Iraq war as it had hoped, but there is no fracture in the US- Canadian relationship and there will be no consequences for Canada," he said.

"Canada can play a role in the rehabilitation and reconstruction effort," Powell said.

PTI