Duitsers, Fransen en Britten bespreken VN-resolutie over Irak (en)

The UK, French and German foreign ministers met on the fringes of the Constitution negotiations in Brussels yesterday to try and find common ground on a UN resolution authorising the handover of power to the Iraqi provisional authority.

"We have entered into the discussion with partners in the hope that we will be able to reach agreement and reach agreement pretty soon", UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told reporters after the meeting.

According to Mr Straw - whose government co-sponsored a draft UN resolution with the United States - the meeting between the big three was part of a bid to achieve a quick consensus.

There has been a lot of debate with key partners in advance of sharing text with them, said Mr Straw.

One of the most sensitive issues - when the international military presence in Iraq will end - has not been set in the draft resolution.

"I think the transfer of power to the new Iraqi government from July 1 should be a complete, sincere and clear transfer, even if there is naturally, for a certain time, a sharing of responsibilities on security until the January elections", French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told a news conference.