Iraq resolution ignores quick transfer of power - Annan

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said tonight a new US draft resolution on Iraq does not follow his recommendation for a quick transfer of power to an interim government.

The revised resolution endorses a step-by-step transfer of authority to an Iraqi interim administration but sets no timetable for the hand over of sovereignty and leaves the US led Coalition Provisional Authority in overall control until elections are held at some future unspecified date.

France, Germany and Russia – who opposed the US led war on Iraq – have also called for a quick transfer of sovereignty to Iraqis, with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin saying it could be done by the end of the year.

France and Russia had no immediate comment on the new draft while Germany gave a warm initial response.

Annan has recommended quickly setting up an interim Iraqi government which would assume power.

This would allow the United Nations to work directly with the government, and make it easier for other countries to contribute troops and money without involving the US.-British occupation authorities which poses problems for many countries, the secretary-general has said.

Though the new US draft doesn’t set a timeline, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said last week he envisions the process of drafting a new Iraqi constitution to take six months.

Annan has said handing over sovereignty quickly would enable the Iraqis to take more time to write a constitution, noting that the United Nations has found the process has taken up to two years in other countries.

“Obviously, it’s not going in the direction I had recommended, but I will still have to study it further,” Annan said today.

The revised US draft also calls for a strengthened UN role in Iraq.

US Ambassador John Negroponte said he would like to see a resolution in place in advance of the donors conference for Iraq, to be held on October 23 in Madrid.

Seeking to answer critics of the war, the draft said that ”the day when Iraqis govern themselves must come quickly.” It called on the US-led coalition “to continue its practice of transferring as quickly as practicable effective and substantial executive responsibility” and it urged the Iraqis to move quickly to adopt a constitution.