UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has said that he expects the Security Council to authorize a multinational force to remain in Iraq as part of a resolution that will cover the period after the return of sovereignty on 30 June , saying it was in everyone's interest to do "whatever we can" to stabilize the country.

"Obviously the new (caretaker) government would also be consulted, but there will be a resolution authorizing a multinational force and encouraging governments to come together in a genuine international effort to help stabilize Iraq" Mr Annan said on NBC's "Meet The Press" programme.

"Quite frankly, it's in everybody's interest that we do whatever we can to stabilize Iraq," he added. Pakistan's Ambassador to United Nations, Munir Akram, who took over the presidency of the 15 member UN Security Council for the month, told reporters that the Council would discuss composition of such a multinational force during the coming weeks.

However, he said some conditions had to be met, which include a clear mandate for the United Nations to takeover and a clear guarantee for the security of the UN personnel is given by the coalition forces. But he said that such a resolution could be adopted in June.

When asked if the move would enable the United States to withdraw some of its forces, Mr. Annan said: "I think it depends. If we are able to attract other governments, other countries that are now out in the theatre to deploy troops, that may be possible. But it will depend on how fast and how quickly we are able to get other governments to join and provide troops."

As to how much sovereignty the Iraqis will have after 30 June, the UN Chief said he thought sovereignty "will be and should be" complete, but perhaps because it is supposed to be a caretaker government, the new authorities should not to take any decisions that will bind the duly elected government that is supposed to come into existence next January and therefore should not pass any long-term laws.