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United Nations: Deviating from an earlier statement that it would consider suspending sanctions on Iraq rather than ending them, the United States presented a revised resolution to the UN Security Council calling for immediate lifting of the curbs.

The draft, which was considered by experts on May 16 and would be discussed again by them, gives major role to the US and Britain to run Iraq for at least one year with automatic renewal of their rule if they deem it necessary.

The basic structure of the original draft remained unchanged but the revised version slightly enhances the UN role in dealing with post-war Iraq issues. It also gives full control to the occupying powers over Iraq's oil resources and on the manner in which revenues earned from oil are spent.

American diplomats said they want to put the resolution to vote next week.

The new US draft makes more than 25 changes to address the Council members' concerns about post- war Iraq, Richard Grenell, spokesman for American Ambassador to UN John Negroponte, said. "We think we have moved significantly."

US Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke of possibility of suspension of sanctions during a visit to Bulgaria but his statement retracted almost immediately with American officials insisting that US favours immediate lifting of 13-year old sanctions imposed in wake of the 1990 Iraq attack on Kuwait.

Powell, now in Berlin for talks with German leadership, also clarified that the US wants the sanctions lifted.

Some diplomats, including from Russia, described the new draft as a step in the right direction and kept their criticism at low key.

PTI