UNITED NATIONS, April 12: The United States and Britain are expected to table a new UN resolution on Iraq in May, on handing over power to Iraqis, as unrest and violence has engulfed the country, diplomats here said.

Diplomats from US and Britain want the 15-nation UN Security Council to give its blessing to a new Iraqi interim government, a multinational force and a UN role in the country after the hand over of power.

Despite deteriorating conditions in Iraq the Bush administration is adamant to go ahead with a plan to hand over sovereignty to Iraqis on June 30. A major problem is what form of Iraqi government will be in place by July 1.

UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is in Iraq now to advise on an interim government until elections for a permanent government can be held early next year. "But the United States and Britain have to plan on the assumption that Brahimi and others will be successful," one diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "There is no choice," he added.