The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a US-British resolution endorsing return of sovereignty to Iraq's interim government after the June 30 handover and establishing a multinational force under American command.
The vote came on Tuesday after days of negotiations during which the United States modified the resolution four times but did not concede anything on its basic elements.
The resolution also lays down a time-table for various steps leading to installation of a democratically elected government by January 2006.
The interim government would take over on June 30 when the coalition authority would be dissolved.
The resolution gives the caretaker government control of its own forces that would coordinate with the multinational
force for any major and sensitive operations.
The interim government will also control all Iraqi resources, including revenues from oil, and would be free to spend as it deems fit. But there will be an international oversight for sometime.
Elections for a transitional government, to be in place by January next year, will be organised by the interim government with the help from the United Nations.
The transitional government would draw up a constitution under which the elections are to be held by January end 2006 at which time the mandate of the multinational force ends.
The interim government would have the right to ask for withdrawal of multinational force but it is unlikely to happen in view of the delicate security situation and the fact that Iraq does not have well trained forces which can take over the
security duties.
