New York: In a significant change of strategy, United States President George W Bush has agreed to seek a new United Nations Security Council resolution to give the world body a greater role in Iraq and authorise a multinational force for the war-torn country.

The decision to begin negotiations with the Council members to seek a UN mandate for multinational force, which would make it easier for more foreign countries to contribute troops for Iraq, came after a meeting Bush had with Secretary of State Colin Powell on September 2.

A draft resolution could be circulated as early as next week to provide basis for discussion with other members of the Council, media reported on September 3.

India, France and Russia are among the countries that have refused to contribute troops for Iraq stabilisation force, but offered to reconsider their stand should the operation be mandated by the United Nations.

However, Bush still wants the force to be commanded by an American, which might not be acceptable to France and Russia, who, other than troops, are also expected to contribute financial resources for reconstruction of Iraq.

It is yet unclear how much authority the US would be willing to hand over to the UN and whether it would be prepared to allow Paris and Moscow a say in decision-making, something on which negotiations could break down.

The 'New York Times' sees the decision as a tacit admission that the current American-dominated force in Iraq is stretched too thin.

PTI