In quotes: Reaction to draft UN resolution

Daily violence continues despite the imminent handover

The US and UK presented a draft resolution to the UN Security Council on 24 May on the future of Iraq after the handover of power to an interim Iraqi government on 30 June.

The proposals endorse sovereignty for an interim Iraqi government and back the continued presence of a US-led multinational force.

---

France

[The resolution] contains some positive points and others on which talks deserve to be continued, so that the resolution encourages the appearance very clearly of a political perspective in Iraq.

...The extent of the responsibilities of the future interim Iraqi government, especially over its oil resources, must be studied closely.

President Jacques Chirac

---

Iran

We believe that full sovereignty has to be transferred to the Iraqi people.

There are some ambiguities in the UN draft resolution. We hope that they will be clarified.

Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi

---

Russia

The consultations on the government's composition are under way. Depending on that we will be able to judge how legitimate a new government can look, above all, to the Iraqis themselves.

It is from these positions that we proceed in determining our attitude to the new draft resolution.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

---

Germany

Naturally we must wait for [UN special envoy to Iraq] Lakhdar Brahimi's report or propositions before the resolution can be finalised, but I think there is a very good basis on which to try to find a consensus, and we could obtain it.

Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer

---

China

The Chinese side supports a new resolution on the Iraq issue to be adopted by the UN Security Council... The Chinese side is seriously studying the draft resolutions submitted by the United States and Britain to the Security Council.

Foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao

---