The measure gives the Iraqi interim government the right to order U.S. troops to leave the country at anytime

BAGHDAD , June 9 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, June 8, to adopt a U.S.-British resolution that gives the new Iraqi government the right to ask foreign troops to leave the oil-rich country at any time.

But Iraq ’s interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi – known for long-time links to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and a former member of the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) - said after the vote his country will need foreign troops even after a U.S.-led occupation formally ends in June 30 required by the resolution, Reuters said.

Iraqi Kurds, unhappy with the omission of any reference to an interim constitution that guarantees their autonomy, said they might quit Allawi's newly formed government in protest.

In a packed council chamber, the 15-nation body endorsed a "sovereign interim government" in Iraq and authorized a U.S.-led multinational force to "keep the peace" following a late addition on control of military forces sought by France , Reuters said.

The measure gives the Iraqi interim government the right to order U.S. troops to leave at any time and makes clear the mandate of the international force will expire by the end of January 2006.

Control of the 160,000 U.S.-led occupation troops was the most contentious issue in the resolution, which authorizes a multinational force under American command to "use all necessary measures" to prevent violence.

At the insistence of France and others, the resolution includes a pledge by the United States for a military "partnership" and coordination with Iraq 's leaders on "sensitive offensive operations."

But it does not say what happens in case of a disagreement over the use of U.S. forces, prompting France, Germany , Algeria and others to propose Iraq had the right to block a major U.S. campaign.

The United States rejected this demand.

"Dangers"

The resolution paves the way for elections by giving a timetable of no later than January 2005 for a poll on a transitional government. After a constitution is written, a permanent government is to take office by January 31, 2006 .

The measure puts Iraq in charge of its oil proceeds and calls for the United Nations to help with elections, writing of a constitution and many other tasks.

But although the resolution asks for more international troops, U.S. officials have given no indication further help would be in the offing.

"I expect nations to contribute as they see fit," Bush told reporters in Sea Island , Georgia , where the G8 of industrialized countries were attending a summit also dominated by the issue of Iraq .

More Troops

But Allawi said Iraq will need foreign troops to fight "insurgents" even after a U.S.-led occupation formally ends in the three weeks required by the resolution.

"The sovereignty is going to be total, is going to be complete," Allawi told Fox News in an interview to be aired on Wednesday.

"We ask in fact and we want the...multinational forces to help us to face the security threats until such a time that we are able to build our own security and move ahead."

Kurds Unhappy

In the meantime, Iraqi Kurds said they might quit Allawi's newly formed government to protest against the resolution’s ignorance of their calls for federalism.

"All the struggles we made last year have been lost...we have seen how democracy can be usurped," Public Works Minister Nasreen Berwari told Reuters.

"If the leadership calls on us to withdraw from the government, we will do so."

Iraq's hugely influential Shiite leader Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, who objects to the interim constitution's safeguards for Kurdish rights, reiterated this week he would oppose any U.N. resolution that mentioned the document.

Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush called the vote "a great victory for the Iraqi people."

"This is an important milestone for the new Iraq . We all now want to put the divisions of the past behind us and unite behind the vision of a modern, democratic and stable Iraq ," British Prime Minister told a news conference in Sea Island .

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who opposed the Iraq invasion, called the resolution a step forward, but said: "Surely it will take quite a long time before the adoption of the document will have any impact on the real change on the ground in Iraq ."