UN debates democracy in Iraq

There is growing pressure for self-rule in Iraq

The United Nations Security Council is considering a report urging the United States to act swiftly to establish full democracy in Iraq.

The report - prepared by the UN special representative in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello - calls for a clear timetable for the return of sovereignty to the Iraqi people.

It also says that UN involvement will be essential in any process intended to give legitimacy to a new government.

Introducing the report, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said: "Our collective goal remains an early end to the military occupation through the formation on an internationally recognised, representative government."

Law and order

Mr Vieira de Mello told the Security Council there was widespread support in Iraq for the UN to be given a strong role in bringing about a democracy.

Profile: Sergio Vieira de Mello

He said that the recent establishment of the "broadly representative" Iraqi Governing Council, whose members were chosen by the US-led coalition running the country, was a "significant step towards that goal".

The governing council will appoint a constitutional council whose tasks will be to draw up a new Iraqi constitution and set a date for elections.

Among those taking part in the Security Council session are three members of the Iraqi Governing Council - Adnan Pachachi, Ahmed Chalabi and Aquila al-Hashimi.

Mr Vieira de Mello warned that restoring law and order in Iraq was an urgent priority.

"Too many are losing their lives on an almost daily basis," he said, adding that UN and international aid workers were among those coming under sometimes deadly attack.

Iraqi Governing Council members

He also said that removing landmines and other unexploded ordnance was another urgent priority.

The BBC's David Bamford, in New York, says this is the first opportunity for the UN to take stock of the situation in Iraq since US-led forces invaded the country without Security Council backing.

He adds that there is a sense at the UN headquarters that it is now trying to regain the initiative, partly to reaffirm its own relevance in the world.

International criticism

The UN debate about Iraq's future comes amid concern in the US about the rising costs of military occupation, in terms of both soldiers' lives and dollars.

On Tuesday, one American soldier was killed and another wounded in an ambush north of Baghdad.

There is also continuing international criticism of the occupation.

In a televised address, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak spoke of insecurity and lawlessness in Iraq having a bad effect on the region at large.

He said the only way to restore calm and order was through an elected Iraqi government.

Speaking ahead of the UN meeting, the Russian Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, said the situation in Iraq was continuing to deteriorate very rapidly, and called for a new Security Council resolution that would provide the legal basis for international action.