Chirac demands full Iraq handover

Chirac led opposition to the war in Iraq

President Jacques Chirac has said any compromise in handing over sovereignty in Iraq would be "disastrous".

The French leader called for a swift and unambiguous return of power, and said that the US must not maintain control behind the scenes.

"It is urgent today to return sovereignty to the Iraqis," he said.

Earlier this week US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Iraq would have to defer to the coalition on some issues, even after the handover on 30 June.

What would be disastrous would be a compromise solution Jacques Chirac Chirac takes EU debate to the people

But Mr Chirac said: "There is no possible solution that would lead to the reconstruction of Iraq without a genuine transfer of sovereignty under the effective control of the United Nations."

'Deep resentment'

"What would be disastrous would be a compromise solution based on an ambiguity along the lines of: 'Right, the United Nations you go and stand up the front' but in fact nothing has changed and the coalition is really still in charge," he said.

The French leader said only a full handover would repair the "deep resentment" felt by many Iraqis at the current situation there.

Mr Chirac - who led opposition to the war in Iraq - said he expected the EU would largely agree with the UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who said an interim government could be chosen within the next month despite the "extremely worrying" security situation there.

France and the EU have been calling for a UN resolution setting out the exact terms on which power will be transferred on 30 June.