US to Seek Vote on Iraq Resolution Later This Week

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, May 20, 2003

US to Seek Vote on Iraq Resolution Later This Week

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The United States will present the United Nations Security Council a third and final draft resolution to lift sanctions on Iraq on Monday, and ask for a vote later this week, US Ambassador to the UN John Negroponte said.

The new draft will be circulated at council consultations at 5:30 pm EST (2130 GMT) on Monday, which was scheduled at the requestof the US mission, Negroponte told reporters after a council meeting on East Timor.

"We intend to put it down in blue at council consultations thisafternoon with a view to having a vote on that resolution sometimelater this week," he said.

He said the US mission has asked other council missions to "seek instructions" from their capitals and be prepared to vote "from Wednesday forward."

Under council rules, a draft printed in blue could be put to a vote at any time as called for by its sponsors.

Describing the new text as a "good" resolution, Negroponte declined to reveal sticking points during previous council consultations.

He insisted that the resolution has given a "vital" role to theUnited Nations by allowing it to help with, among other things, the return of government in Iraq and protect human rights.

When asked about whether the new draft would address the issue of future UN arms inspections in Iraq, the UN envoy reiterated that the US-British coalition has taken over the conduct of inspections and there would be no role for UN inspectors in the immediate future.

The United States submitted to the council the second draft resolution on Iraq last week. But Russia, France, China and other council members have called for further revisions on the UN role in Iraq and other issues.

The resolution calls for lifting all UN long-standing sanctionson Iraq except for an arms embargo, phasing out the UN-run oil-for-food program in four months, and allow the United States and Britain to control Iraq's oil revenues.

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