Delay Expected Until Iraq Sets Up 'Basic Law,' Officials Say
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 26 -- The Bush administration is seriously considering deferring its plans to seek U.N. Security Council support for a new resolution blessing its plan to transfer power to Iraqis this summer, U.S. and U.N. officials said Wednesday.
Administration officials are concerned that France, Germany and Russia will reopen their bid to secure a greater role for the international community in Iraq's political transition, the officials said.
Just one week ago, senior U.S. officials expressed a desire to obtain the council's quick endorsement of a recent U.S.-Iraq pact that would pave the way to a hand-over of power to an Iraqi transitional government by June 30.
U.S. officials are now indicating that they would not bring such a request before the Security Council until March. By that time, Iraq will have established a new "basic law" enshrining the essential principles that will guide Iraq's political transition.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16619-2003Nov26.html