US Urges Backing for Resolution

The US and its allies today asked the UN security council to approve a resolution lifting 12-year-old sanctions on Iraq and giving them control over the country's oil revenue.

US ambassador John Negroponte officially introduced the eight-page resolution in a closed meeting of council members. It envisions the US and Britain running the country as "occupying powers" for at least a year, and probably much longer.

The resolution would also give them control over Iraq's oil money to finance the country's reconstruction. The UN would be limited to a largely advisory role.

Washington's vision is at odds with that of several security council members, particularly Russia and France. They have proposed an alternate plan that would only suspend sanctions until a legitimate Iraqi government is established.

Sergey Lavrov, Russia's UN ambassador, said that Moscow has "a long list" of questions. However, Chile welcomed the resolution, and Angola's UN envoy, Ismael Abraao Gaspar Martins, called it a "good start".

Members have until June 3, when the current six-month phase of the oil-for-food scheme expires, to decide how to respond. It has been reaching up to 90% of Iraq's 24 million people.

"Our view is that it's desirable to have this resolution passed as soon as possible, that the June 3 deadline for the expiry of the oil-for-food program is in fact very much the outer limit," Mr Negroponte said.

The resolution would lift economic and trade sanctions imposed on Saddam Hussein's government after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and phase out the oil-for-food program, which was instituted in 1996 to help ordinary Iraqis cope with the embargoes.

Money from oil sales would be used for humanitarian goods, reconstruction, civil administration and the continued disarmament of Iraq. An arms embargo would be maintained.

Lifting sanctions immediately and phasing out oil-for-food over four months will take Iraq's oil wealth out of the hands of the UN and put it under the control of Washington and London.

The Bush administration is counting on approval from Russia, France, China and Germany, who had the strongest anti-war position in the 15-member council, with officials saying there was little enthusiasm for another bruising fight between the powers.

Russia, as well as France, has called for a central role for the UN and the return of UN arms inspectors, which the US opposes. But whether either country would threaten a veto is uncertain, as they may not be able to count on support among temporary council members who backed them in opposing the war.

The resolution would also endorse the authority of the US and Britain to govern Iraq, and it appears to foresee a lengthy stay. It notes that Washington and London sent a letter to the council president yesterday recognizing their responsibilities and obligations under international law "as occupying powers".

The letter marks the first time that the US has referred to its role in Iraq as an "occupying power," a status governed by the Geneva Conventions that would entail wide-ranging responsibilities to look after the Iraqi people. Until now, the US has avoided the term, calling itself a "liberating force".

Under the proposal, the 12-month initial authorization for the US and British "authority" in Iraq would be renewed automatically, unless the security council decided otherwise.

Since the US and Britain have veto powers, they could block any attempt to get them to leave Iraq, which is likely to be deemed unacceptable by other council members.