Tories urge bigger UN role in Iraq

Ancram wants coalition troops to be strengthened

The United Nations should be given a bigger say in the run-up to the handover of power to an Iraqi authority, say the Conservatives.

Shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram said coalition troops needed to be "strengthened" to help restore order.

He told the BBC a UN force should not take over from the coalition but the UN's political role should be enhanced.

Downing Street says 30 June remains the target for handing power to Iraqis and it has backed the current US strategy.

'No disagreement'

At least eight Russians have been kidnapped in the latest chapter of Iraq's ongoing foreign hostage crisis.

The continuing violence in Iraq will top the agenda when Tony Blair meets US President George Bush later this week.

A No 10 spokeswoman told reporters on Tuesday: "Nothing has changed. People would be critical of us if we were not working towards a date.

We are very aware people have to make decisions on the ground to deal with the situations that arise No 10 spokeswoman

"This is trying to help the Iraqi people take over and run their own affairs."

Amid criticism of the measures used by some coalition forces, the spokeswoman said the tactics used to counter violence were taken by American military officers in Iraq.

"We are in agreement with the Americans about the strategy and the approach to deal with the situation in Iraq. There is no difference between us.

"We are very aware people have to make decisions on the ground to deal with the situations that arise. British commanders have to take decisions on the ground, as do Americans."

'Disruption expected'

The Tories want it to play a greater advisory role on such issues as the date for elections and the handover process.

Mr Ancram told Radio 4's Today programme: "There is a stronger role for the United Nations on the political front in bringing about what we hope will be a successful transfer of power."

Occupation breeds resistance Prince Hassan of Jordan

Mr Ancram denied Iraq was in chaos.

"Everybody realised that as the moment approached when power was going to be returned to the Iraqis there would be forces in Iraq that would try to disrupt," he said.

He also rejected a call from former senior UN official Sir Marrack Goulding for US forces to withdraw completely and hand over to Arab and Muslim forces acting under UN authority.

But he argued the 30 June deadline for the power transfer should not be "set in stone" and its feasibility should be assessed nearer the time.

British influence

The Conservatives want a more senior British official sent to Baghdad to give Britain a stronger say.

They are disappointed that Sir Jeremy Greenstock, who has acted as Tony Blair's envoy, has been replaced by a less senior figure.

The government instead says there are already senior Foreign Office and military officials working in Iraq.

Asked whether more British troops should be sent to Iraq, Mr Ancram said: "We have always understood that we need, in our sector, to provide the resources we need to do the job.

"As I understand it, there isn't a request for further resources."

Root problem?

A senior US commander has said he needs two more brigades - about 10,000 troops - to help pacify Iraq.

But Prince Hassan of Jordan told Today that more troops would not solve the root problem, which was the coalition's occupation of the country.

"Occupation breeds resistance and resistance provokes the extreme violence of the occupiers which causes more pain and suffering leading to even more stern resistance," he said.

"It is a spiral of violence."

The Foreign Office has already warned Britons to avoid non-essential travel to Iraq but Sir Menzies Campbell said it should consider whether to follow France in urging its citizens to leave.

He said: "Iraq is self-evidently a most dangerous place, and becoming even more so as hostage taking is on the increase. British citizens should not be exposed to unnecessary risks."