CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar, (AP):
BRITAIN'S FOREIGN Secretary warned the UN Security Council yesterday not to "play games" with the reconstruction of Iraq.
Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, told reporters that the United Nations will play a vital role in restoring stability to Iraq, but he said it "depends on the degree to which others in the Security Council, particularly the permanent five, show a similarly constructive approach."
Straw, on a four-nation trip to Gulf region nations, made the comments as the United States and Britain shift from combat missions to humanitarian and reconstruction projects in Iraq.
The United States has invited its coalition partners to talks on rebuilding Iraq but not countries that objected to the war such as Germany, France and Russia.
Several permanent members of the UN Security Council, especially France and Russia, were major opponents of the war on Iraq and had argued for more weapons inspections.
"It is a responsibility of all members... not to play games but to recognise this new reality and to move forward," Straw said.
US TO TAKE LEAD
Washington has stated repeatedly that the US-led coalition will take the lead in running and rebuilding the country; the European Union and many other nations are pushing for greater UN involvement.
Straw emphasised that the military phase of the Iraq campaign is already ending.
"Now as we gradually move into the phase of reconstruction, rehabilitation, the development of the country... it will be the military acting in support of a policy process," Straw said.
US and British forces are struggling to contain widespread looting, restore power to major cities and sow the seeds of a fledgling government.
Retired US Gen., Jay Garner, has been tapped to head an interim administration in Iraq. British Maj. Gen. Tim Cross, the top British member of Garner's team, said the interim administration could begin handing power back to Iraqi officials within three to six months.
US-picked representatives of some of Iraq's often-quarrelsome factions were to meet later Tuesday to begin shaping the country's post-war government. Many Iraqis, however, said that they will boycott the meeting, in protest of Garner's proposed interim administration.
SYRIA WARNED TO CO-OPERATE
Straw also repeated warnings to Syria to co-operate with coalition forces amid US claims that the Arab state is harbouring Iraqi leaders and has chemical weapons.
"There are some important questions for Syria to answer and to deal with," Straw said. "It's very important that Syria accepts the new reality and operates in a constructive, co-operative way with us and the United States... There's an opportunity here for an important new beginning for Syria."
Syria has angrily rejected the accusations.
"(US President George W. Bush) can accuse half of the countries of the world, but where is the evidence?" Syrian lawmaker Yaser al-Nahlawy asked on Qatar-based satellite television Al-Jazeera Monday.
Straw was scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia later yesterday before heading to Greece for a summit on expanding the European Union.
He made earlier stops in Kuwait and Bahrain.
