The United Nations Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted the United States' resolution on Iraq lending legitimacy to the American-installed administration to rule the country till an elected government is in place.

Despite strong reservations and rejection of the changes suggested by them, France, Russia and Germany, which had steadfastly opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq, voted in favour of the draft.

The US resolution gives an important but not the central role to the UN. It calls for establishment of a multinational force under American command and asks the Iraqi governing council to submit a timetable for writing a constitution and holding elections under it by December 15.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has welcomed the vote.