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Is the US acting as a sole superpower by snubbing UN? Post your views

United Nations: The United States on May 9 formally introduced a resolution asking the United Nations Security Council to lift 13-year old economic and financial sanctions against Iraq and give Washington and London sweeping powers to run the country for at least one year.

The resolution, introduced by American Ambassador John Negroponte a month after the fall of President Saddam Hussein's regime, gives limited role to the United Nations and asks the "oil-for-food" programme run the by the world body to be phased out in four months.

The Council members are expected to send the resolution to their respective capitals later on May 9 and an intense debate will start early next week.

Russia, France and China are expected to challenge some of the provisions of the draft which was described by several Ambassadors as complex. It requires a careful study, they said.

Moscow and Paris are expected to have reservations about the provision which gives Washington and London wide powers to run the country especially as it provides automatic extension of their rule unless the Council decides otherwise.

To decide "otherwise," the Council must adopt a fresh resolution which the US and Britain could veto.

PTI