United Nations: France, Russia, Germany and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed strong reservations on the new United States draft resolution on Iraq as the Security Council began discussing it on October 3.

They want the US-led coalition authority to transfer power within months, preferably by the end of the year, to an expanded Governing Council which would be more representative of the people and are dissatisfied with the role Washington plans to give to the world body.

Annan would like the United Nations to have a clear-cut mandate so that there is no blurring of the responsibilities and also wants the world body to work independently of the coalition.

Diplomats say, Annan is making very clear that either the US led coalition or the United Nations should be in charge of the political process as blurring of lines could lead to trouble and that the world body should be given mandates which it has the capacity to implement.

But the resolution as drafted by US gives predominant role to the US led Coalition Provisional Authority till the elections are held and new government is installed. It calls for step by step approach which would entail transferring powers to Iraqi institutions slowly and gives no timetable for transfer of full authority to Iraqis.

PTI