WASHINGTON, July 17: The United States said on Wednesday it had started discussions with other governments on the possibility of a new UN mandate for Iraq, where Washington has had trouble finding allies to share the burdens of reconstruction and military occupation.

“There are some nations who’ve expressed a desire for more of a mandate from the United Nations and I am in conversation with some ministers about this,” Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters.

Powell, speaking after meeting German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, said the talks were preliminary and that the United States continues to believe the current mandate is enough for other countries to contribute troops.

The mandate, enshrined in Security Council resolution 1483 approved in May, gives the United States and junior partner Britain the dominant role in running Iraq and its lucrative oil industry.

But the US military occupation faces guerrilla resistance and the US public has shown early signs of doubt about the value of keeping troops in Iraq for years.

Powell said he had discussed the matter with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who saw President George W. Bush in Washington on Monday.

“This is indeed an issue that is under discussion,” Annan told reporters in New York on Wednesday. “The question has been posed as to whether or not Security Council action may not help improve the situation — a Security Council action that expands UN activities and perhaps appeals to the member-states to make troops, policemen and other resources available for the stabilization of Iraq.”

Fischer, whose country opposed the invasion of Iraq, said Germany was ready to help improve the humanitarian situation in Iraq and help with reconstruction, but not send troops.

“The relevant Security Council resolution 1483 made quite clear that the responsibility on the ground is in the hands of the coalition. We are not part of the coalition,” he said.

“We are open to discuss what would be our role in the reconstruction but our position linked to the question of sending military troops is unchanged,” he added.

A new UN mandate, probably giving the United Nations a more central role in running Iraq, could persuade some of Washington’s allies to contribute troops.

But it would also be an admission of inadequacy by the Bush administration, which brushed aside international criticism of the invasion of Iraq and decided to act largely alone.

India this week turned down a request to take part in the military operation in Iraq and French President Jacques Chirac said on Tuesday sending troops to Iraq was inconceivable under the current framework.

Powell and Fischer also talked about the Middle East and Afghanistan, where German troops command an international peacekeeping force in the Kabul area.—Reuters