US-Russia split over Iraq

US-Russian relations were damaged over Iraq

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said America and Russia have not yet solved differences over a draft United Nations resolution to end sanctions against Iraq.

"There are some outstanding issues and we will be working these issues in a spirit of partnership and trying to come to a solution," Mr Powell told reporters after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday.

Mr Putin, meanwhile, said Russia and America had managed to preserve "the fundamental basis of relations" despite disagreements.

With respect to Iraq, there are some outstanding issues and we will be working these issues in a spirit of partnership and trying to come to a solution

Colin Powell

He added that he hoped a summit meeting with US President George W Bush at the end of May in St Petersburg would bring a "new impetus" to bilateral ties.

This week's suicide bomb attacks, in Chechnya and in Saudi Arabia, have reminded Moscow and Washington why they pledged to work together to fight international terrorism.

Mr Powell travelled to Moscow from Riyadh, where he visited the scene of Monday's suicide bomb attacks, which killed at least 34 people.

And his visit to Moscow coincided with the second suicide bombing in Chechnya in three days.

Resolution rift

Under the draft resolution, the US and its coalition allies will be afforded the right to sell Iraqi oil and spend the profits without international supervision.

Russia is wary about the US and its allies wielding too much power in Iraq

Russia is opposed to a resolution that affords such wide-reaching powers and also says that UN inspectors must be sent back into Iraq to verify that there are no weapons of mass destruction in the country.

"We will be working closely in the days ahead to see if we can come to agreement with our other Security Council partners in passing a resolution that we will use to help the people of Iraq live a better life," Mr Powell said.

The UN Security Council is due to discuss the draft resolution on Thursday.

The BBC's Moscow correspondent, Steven Rosenberg, says relations between Moscow and Washington were damaged by the conflict in Iraq.

The US accused Russia of arming Saddam Hussein and Moscow in turn charged that Washington broke international law.

Our correspondent says the US and Russia have diametrically opposed views about the world order.

Changing political order

Russia wants a multi-polar planet, a balance of power, with the UN playing the key role of international referee, but the US will not be tied down to that.

Another divisive issue expected to be discussed was Russia's nuclear technology transfers to Iran.

The US says that Tehran is trying to develop nuclear weapons - a charge Tehran vehemently denies.

On Wednesday morning, Mr Powell also met Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, who is visiting Moscow, to discuss new moves to ease tension between India and Pakistan.