Bush to meet world leaders over Iraq
President Bush is set to meet several world leaders today, including the German chancellor, the Indian prime minister and the president of Pakistan.
The President is expected to attempt to gain more support for a United Nations resolution authorising an expanded international force in Iraq.
After yesterday’s speeches to the UN, where Kofi Annana criticised the US for its pre-emptive action and President Jacques Chirac condemned the Iraq war, Mr Bush will try to gather support for an international force while holding back from giving the UN a greater role in the country.
France has already called for the UN to play a ‘full part’ in Iraq and is now seeking a handover of power to the Iraqis much faster than the US is prepared to accept.
Yesterday Mr Bush told the United Nations Security Council: ‘Now the nation of Iraq needs and deserves our aid and all nations of good will should step forward and provide that support’. However, although he believed that the UN could ‘contribute greatly to the cause of Iraqi self-government’, he did not see the need for a greater UN role in Iraq.
The American UN resolution mandates a multinational force in Iraq and supports the US-backed Governing Council there. France has already criticised it but made it clear that they will not veto it if comes to a vote.
