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U.N. resolution on Iraq passes unanimously

Jun- 9-2004 » Filed Under: Iraq News

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UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a resolution that endorses the June 30 transfer of sovereignty in Iraq and gives authorization for a U.S.-led multinational force.

President Bush said the vote was a "great victory for the Iraqi people." Pakistan's U.N. ambassador called it the "most significant" diplomatic step on Iraq since the 1991 Gulf War.

Approval of the U.S.-British resolution came after weeks of intense negotiation, with many key diplomats seeking a better explanation of the multinational force's role after the June 30 handover.

France and Germany, two of the most strident opponents of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, signaled their approval of the resolution late Monday.

The compromise resolution says the multinational force will serve "at the request of the incoming interim government of Iraq" and that the force can be asked to leave at anytime.

It also says the force will be able to take "all necessary measures to contribute to maintenance of security and stability" in Iraq and gives a 12-month deadline for the force to be reviewed. In addition, it asks member states to contribute to the force.


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