A new UN resolution setting out a clear vision for the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq to its people has been agreed unanimously by the UN Security Council.
Resolution 1511 was passed by fifteen votes to zero in the United Nations Security Council. The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said this represented an important step on the road to a free Iraq run by the Iraqi people by themselves for the first time in many decades.
The initiative for the resolution came from President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair in the aftermath of the bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August.
Mr Straw said:
"What the resolution does is first of all ensure that there is a clear vision of a rapid transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi people, secondly set up a clear timescale for the Governing Council to produce their own report on a timescale for the transfer in detail and for the constitutional convention by 15 December and third to authorise this multi national force under unified command which will be United States command, but to give it greater international legitimacy which we hope will encourage further troop contributions."
He added that the agreement is a good sign ahead of the Donors’ Conference on Iraq in Madrid on 24 October to discuss the financing of Iraq.
International Secretary Hilary Benn announced earlier this week that the UK would commit a total of £544m at the Conference.
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