New Iraq plan gives US broad powers

An interim government drawn from Iraq’s various religious and ethnic communities is expected to be formed in the next week or so, with help from UN Iraq envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. No vote is expected until Brahimi reports back to the council.

The resolution, presented to the council, would support the formation of a ‘‘sovereign interim government’’ to take office by June 30. It says that government would “assume the responsibility and authority for governing a sovereign Iraq.”

‘‘This resolution marks a new phase in the transition to democracy for Iraq. It recognizes the end of the occupation and the beginning of sovereignty for the Iraqi people,’’ said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. The measure would give Iraq’s new ministers control of oil revenues but keep an international audit board for a year to check on expenditures, in order to encourage foreign investments.

The draft emerged as President George W. Bush prepared to deliver a speech on Monday mapping out his plans for Iraq, where attacks on occupying forces have thrown into doubt prospects for a peaceful transfer to democratic rule. Bush, who will speak at the US Army War College in Pennsylvania, has seen his approval ratings slip to the mid-to-low 40 percent range. Iraqi leaders and some Security Council members, have pressed Bush to ensure the new Baghdad government is given real independence. —Reuters