The U.N. "will be involved, along with the coalition, in helping to stand up an interim authority," Bush

BELFAST, April 8 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – In a fresh effort to respond to fears of long-term U.S. military rule over Iraq, U.S. President George W. Bush said Tuesday, April 8, the United Nations would play a "vital role" that would include a say in the interim government.

"It will be involved, along with the coalition, in helping to stand up an interim authority," he said, adding, however, the Iraqi people "are responsible for who is on that authority," Bush said during a press conference on the second and last day of the war summit at Hillsborough Castle with Bush outside Belfast in Northern Ireland.

Pressed on what he meant by a "vital role" for the United Nations, Bush replied: "I believe a vital role is as an agent to help people live freely."

"That means food. That means medicine. That means aid. That means a place where people can give their contributions. That means suggesting people for the interim Iraqi authority. That means being a party to the progress being made in Iraq. That's what that means," he said.

The Iraqi president said Britain and the United States would move "as quickly as possible to place governmental responsibilities under the control of an interim authority composed of Iraqis from both inside and outside the country."

"The interim authority will serve until a permanent government can be chosen by the Iraqi people," he added.

Flying to the summit with Bush on Air Force One on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said there is no question the U.N will play an important role."

But he added: "The military commander must be in charge for a period of time to stabilize the country.

The role of the United Nations in the post-Saddam Iraq put the two staunch allies on a collision course as London calls for a key role to heal the international splits over the war against Washington's desire to keep full hands in the Arab country.

Irish premier Bertie Ahern said before the meeting at Hillsborough Castle: "We want to see a new administration that will have greater legitimacy if it is under the ambit of the international community."

Thousands of anti-war protesters marched on the summit but tight security kept them away, The Daily Mirror reported.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan announced he would visit Britain, France, Germany and Russia tomorrow to try to get Security Council members to give the U.N. a part in post-war Iraq.

"There are lots of areas the U.N. can play a role, but above all the U.N. involvement does bring legitimacy," he said.

The U.S. president flew to Belfast for talks determined not to water down plans for an American-led government with a few hand-picked Iraqi exiles.

Blair was expected to win only a vague pledge to allow the United Nations in for a largely humanitarian role.

"Committed"

On the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Bush said he and Blair were "determined to move toward" a vision of "broader peace."

"We're committed to implementing the road map toward peace, to bring closer to the day when two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace and stability.

"Peace in the Middle East will require overcoming deep divisions of history and religion," he said, citing Northern Ireland, scene of three decades of sectarian strife, as a model of conflict resolution worth following.

Bush declared that Washington would publish the roadmap a few days before unleashing war against Iraq.

Many Arab countries believed that Washington turned up the heat against the oil-rich Iraq while turning a blind eye to pushing the long-stalling Middle East peace process forward.