Paris, 3 June – The WEU Assembly is to hold an emergency debate on Iraq, on Thursday, at 15.00, leading to a vote on a resolution asking those of its members represented on the UN Security Council to combine their efforts to have “both the transfer of power and its follow-up” placed under United Nations aegis.

The draft resolution, submitted on behalf of the Political Committee by Mrs Papadimitriou (Greece), deems it “essential for the Interim Government of Iraq to be given the powers and authority it will need to govern a sovereign and democratic Iraq” and to prepare “free and fair elections as soon as possible”.

The resolution also refers to the need “to secure the agreement of the Government of Iraq on the mandate, composition and period of deployment of the multinational force that is to be stationed in Iraq to maintain security and stability in the country”.