Set up body to oversee new Iraq govt: UN

‘‘It’s more than a consultative body but less than a legislative body,’’ he said as he laid out the next step on the path to Iraq’s first free elections in January under a transition process agreed with the US.

‘‘It is only an elected government that can legitimately claim to represent the people of Iraq,’’ he said, as controversy rumbled on among Iraqis about the choice of interim ministers. Improving security would be a priority, he said, as yet another bomb exploded on a Baghdad street, killing at least four people and wounding 20.

Kidnappings of foreigners also remains a threat. A Pole was snatched and an armed group released a video on Wednesday threatening to kill an Egyptian and a Turk if their governments did not condemn the continuing US military occupation.

The new oversight body, to number perhaps about 80 members drawn from about 1,000 who would attend the conference in July, would have the power to overrule the government on a two-thirds vote and to name ministers if any posts fall vacant, a UN official said.

The transition process is set out in a draft UN resolution proposed by the US and Britain. Iraqis and some Council members, including France, have criticised the draft as placing too much restriction on the sovereignty the interim government will gain from Washington on June 30.

A second draft submitted on Tuesday would give it control of its police, border patrols and other security forces and limit the stay of a US-led multinational force. Though careful not to stipulate a date to end the mandate of the force, it does say clearly it would expire after Iraq drafts a new constitution and elects a government, scheduled late in 2005 or early 2006. The original measure had an effectively open-ended mandate.

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said he felt the new draft would answer the objections raised. Further talks are not expected until later on Wednesday or Thursday, when Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari will be present. Brahimi acknowledged that the formation of the government and choice of a President had been ‘‘difficult’’ and some decisions would seem controversial but he refused to give details of the negotiations.

The post of PM is held by Iyad Allawi, a long-time exiled opponent of Saddam Hussein. Brahimi noted that many ministers nominated by the UN to surround him were ‘‘technocrats’’ without strong political affiliations.

Only four of the 22-member US-appointed Governing Council, which was wound up on Tuesday, found posts in the new 36-member administration, among them Allawi and Yawar. — (Reuters)