September 24, 2003	Wednesday	Rajab 26, 1424

NEW YORK, Sept 23: Germany and France, who were against the Iraq war, agree they should not oppose a new UN resolution Washington is drafting to win more support for its occupation of Iraq, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, Schroeder said he had explained France and Germany’s joint desire for US occupiers to hand over power to a provisional Iraqi authority as soon as possible.

Asked if the transfer of sovereignty should occur within a few months, Schroeder said: “It could also be fewer than a few.”

With its troops in Iraq under almost daily guerrilla attack and costs of its occupation soaring, the United States is working on a new resolution aimed at attracting more international help, in terms of both soldiers and cash.—Reuters