THE US: The US and British governments have formally notified the UN Security Council that they recognise their responsibilities and obligations under international law "as occupying powers" in Iraq.
The notification, sent in a letter to the council president, Pakistan, on Thursday, is part of a coalition strategy to gain support for a resolution which would sanction the US and Britain running Iraq for at least 12 months and controlling its oil revenues.
The eight-page resolution, tabled yesterday by the US and co-sponsored by Britain and Spain, also calls for support for the formation of an Iraqi interim authority, and for the lifting of all economic sanctions except on arms purchases.
This is the first time the US or Britain has referred to their role in Iraq as an "occupying power". Before now the Bush administration has preferred the term "liberating force".
An occupying power is required by the Geneva Conventions not to exploit the resources of a country for its own benefit, and to accept wide-ranging responsibilities for the country and its people. These include the provision of public order, health, food and medicines, the maintenance of education facilities and co-operation with relief agencies.
The US envisages in the resolution a limited, largely advisory role for the UN, something which will be contested by France which insists the world body be given a "central role" in rebuilding Iraq, with priority for establishing quickly a responsible Iraqi government.
However, the French Prime Minister, Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin, yesterday praised the US for taking post-war plans for Iraq to the UN. "We are pleased to see that the United Nations is back in the debate," he said in Paris.
Mr Raffarin said his government would adopt "a very positive, very constructive attitude" that would be without aggressiveness or rancour" - a reference to the bitter divisions in the council between the US and France before the war.
At a closed council session yesterday, US ambassador Mr John Negroponte introduced the 25-point resolution which will be the subject of tough negotiations before a vote is taken around the end of the month.
British ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock said: "What we're trying to do in the council and in the coalition on the ground is serve the needs of the Iraqi people and restore Iraq back to the Iraqis for their own purposes and their own benefit as quickly as possible.
"We need to establish what a vital role for the United Nations - as President Bush promised Mr Blair at Hillsborough - would be," he said, adding that parts of the resolution did that.
Spain, the other co-sponsor, will seek changes in the resolution which tackles most UN-related issues except UN arms inspections. "We think that this text can be improved," said Spanish ambassador Mr Inocencio Arias. "But altogether it's a good way to try to find a solution to a situation which is rather complicated."
Russia's UN ambassador, Mr Sergey Lavrov, said Moscow has "a long list" of questions. It wants the oil-for-food programme - which feeds a majority of Iraqis - continued under the UN secretary-general, Mr Kofi Annan, until Iraq has a legitimate government and sanctions are lifted.
Russia is also protesting at the US decision not to have the UN weapons inspectors return to Iraq. Under previous resolutions, sanctions may not be lifted without inspectors certifying the country is rid of unconventional weapons.
US Defence Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld hinted at bringing the inspectors back sometime in the future, perhaps to verify any finds of weapons of mass destruction. At a Pentagon briefing yesterday, he said: "It might very well be that at some point that makes sense."
France has proposed that US and UN weapons inspectors work together, and that sanctions be suspended until a legitimate Iraqi government is established.
Other council nations which opposed the war have taken a conciliatory attitude to the US-drafted resolution.
Chile's UN ambassador, Mr Gabriel Valdes, said their initial reaction was "very positive", and Angola's ambassador, Mr Ismael Gaspar Martins, said "it's a good start".