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China, nations seek Iraq resolution change
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-27 09:54
Four key nations proposed major changes Wednesday to the U.S.-British draft
resolution on Iraq moves that would give the new government control over the
Iraqi army and police and require the multinational force to consult on military
actions except for self-defense.
In this undated
image obtained by NBC News, and made available Wednesday May 26, 2004,
what appear to be Iraq detainees lay on the floor, while U.S. military
personnel are seen nearby at the Abu Ghraib prison on the outskirts of
Baghdad. [AP Photo] |
A three-page proposal by China — which diplomats said was supported by
Russia, France and Germany — would give the interim government that takes over
on June 30 the right to decide whether foreign forces remain in the country and
limit the multinational mandate to January 2005.
Both changes would bolster the sovereign powers of the Iraqi interim
government and extend far greater authority than the resolution introduced to
the U.N. Security Council on Monday by Britain and the United States.
"It should say in the resolution that the government has a final say whether
the force should be extended and on major actions to be taken by the force,"
China's U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, told reporters shortly before Security
Council discussions on the resolution.
The proposal was submitted to
council members Wednesday afternoon during a closed-door discussion of the
U.S.-British draft.
Meanwhile, U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said that Hussain al-Shahristani,
mentioned in recent days as a candidate for the post of prime minister, took
himself out of the competition Wednesday.
A statement released by his spokesman at the United Nations said that there
was no doubt "Mr. Shahristani could serve his country well in a number of
positions in government."
"Mr. Shahrestani, however, has himself clarified that he would prefer to
serve his country in other ways," the statement said.
The four-nation proposal would require the multinational force to "consult
with the interim government in respect of military actions except for
self-defense." These issues are not mentioned in the U.S.-British draft.
The amendment would also determine "that the interim government of Iraq shall
exercise full sovereignty, in the political, economic, security, judicial and
diplomatic areas, including the power to control and dispose all the natural and
economic resources, sign economic cooperation agreements and contracts, and
enjoy judicial independence and the power to administer prisons in Iraq."
The U.S.-British draft endorses the formation of a sovereign interim Iraqi
government that will "assume the responsibility and authority" for governing the
country by June 30, but doesn't spell out its powers.
It also makes no mention of the control of prisons, a highly sensitive issue
following revelations of physical and sexual abuse of Iraqi detainees by U.S.
soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad which have sparked an international
outcry.
The U.S.-British draft reaffirms authorization for the multinational force
currently in Iraq to continue to maintain security and stability, under a
unified command. It would review the force's mandate in 12 months or at the
request of the transitional government which will be elected by early next year.
A senior State Department official noted that the administration has said
that U.S. forces will withdraw from Iraq if it is asked to do so by Iraqi
authorities.
The official said no one can demand the departure of the multinational force
except for the Baghdad government.
The Chinese proposal would authorize the formation and deployment of a
multinational force to assume "primary responsibility for security during the
transitional period."
Its mandate would expire in January 2005 when elections are scheduled to be
held. The Chinese plan says that any extension "should respect the views of the
new Iraqi government to be elected and decided by the Security
Council."
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