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France, Germany promise support

UNITED NATIONS, JUNE 8. The United States called for a vote on Tuesday on a revised U.N. resolution defining the new Iraqi Government's powers. The measure appeared to have overwhelming support after a last-minute U.S. compromise won the backing of the war's sharpest critics, France and Germany.

The U.S. Ambassador, John Negroponte, said he was ``very optimistic'' about the outcome of the vote scheduled for late Tuesday afternoon.

A last-minute addition to the resolution late on Monday by the U.S. and Britain, summarising Iraq's ``security partnership'' with U.S.-led forces, was the key compromise that paved the way for the vote.

Under the compromise, Iraqi leaders would have control of the country's security forces, and Washington and the interim Government promised to work out a policy on how to cooperate on ``sensitive offensive operations.''

But the deal stops short of granting the Iraqis a veto over major offensives by U.S.-led troops.

France, Germany and others had sought such a veto power for the Iraqis. Their pressure to give the Iraqi Government due to take power on June 30 more authority prompted Washington and London to repeatedly alter their draft resolution.

Both countries said on Tuesday they would vote for the latest version. Chile and other Security Council members were still hoping for more changes, and China, while it welcomed the compromise, did not say how it would vote.

Still, the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said he expected the measure would win unanimous backing. ``It should receive a very fair wind and good vote this afternoon in the Security Council,'' Mr. Straw told BBC radio.

After weeks of negotiations, the United States and Britain are hoping to send a united message to the Iraqi people that the international community supports the transfer of full sovereignty to the new Government and wants the leaders to work in partnership with the U.S.-led multinational force that is remaining in the country to help ensure security.

The U.N. envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, who helped put together the interim Government, told the Security Council on Monday that the way the relationship between the interim Government and the multinational force was managed ``will greatly affect the credibility of the interim Government in the eyes of their people.''

AP

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