Iraq council 'will have veto on military'

THE new Iraqi government will be able to veto coalition military operations once it assumes power in July, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday.

His comments have yet to be confirmed by the White House, where the issue is highly sensitive.

But they came as Iraqi defence minister Ali Alawi in London for talks also played down the role of a multi-national force later this year, saying they could be in the country for only months, not years.