UN will not police Iraq after June

THE United Nations will not provide security in Iraq following the 30 June transfer of power, the organisation’s envoy to Baghdad has told an Algerian newspaper.

Lakhdar Brahimi suggested the United States-led multinational force will continue to be responsible for security after a sovereign Iraqi leadership takes over in the country.

"I can affirm that the 150,000 soldiers in the coalition will not disappear on June 30 at midnight," Le Matin yesterday quoted Mr Brahimi as saying.

Mr Brahimi, a former Algerian foreign minister, also said the UN would most probably play only a limited role in Iraq when the transitional government takes over.

"Today, I can tell you that the United Nations does not have the intention of assuming the responsibility for security in Iraq," he said. "We are in Iraq to help assist its political transition, and once the interim government is formed, we will work with it on a constitution and elections."

Mr Brahimi said Iraqis are deeply unhappy with the US occupation and want control of their country.

"Practically every Iraqi I meet insists on the fact that the occupation must end on June 30," he said. "That said, it’s true that the situation is causing concern and that if it continues to deteriorate beyond a certain threshold, I don’t know."

Mr Brahimi is due to head back to Iraq this week, as part of efforts to assemble an interim Iraqi government to take over on 30 June.

Outstanding issues include whether it will have limited or complete sovereignty, and the future of coalition military forces.

Kofi Annan, the secretary general of the UN, has urged more countries to participate in the efforts to stabilise Iraq. He said the US was intensifying talks with France, Germany and Russia.