UNITED NATIONS, March 26: Differences among Security Council members emerged on Tuesday over the language of a resolution for resuming oil-for-food programme to help the Iraqi people impacted by the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Diplomats here said Russia, France, China and Syria — staunch opponents of the war — were wary of resolution language that would ask the United Nations to coordinate efforts with US and British troops and thereby legitimize their military action.

In addition, Russia, Syria and others are not eager to see any contracts renegotiated in the programme, which has many items not related to food or medicine, or to see Iraq’s dwindling oil funds used to care for the population as a result of the war, as they say it should be a US-British responsibility. The programme is to be renewed in June.

“Larger changes in the oil-for-food programme would have to be discussed further,” Russia’s UN Ambassador Sergei Lavrov told reporters. “And in any case the situation now prevents anybody from going into Iraq with humanitarian deliveries.”

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said he hoped for a solution soon regardless of political opposition to the war.

“I think we ought to all come together and see this as a humanitarian effort which has nothing to do with any of the positions one might have taken or not taken,” he said.

Mr Powell said US officials were trying to determine “what kind of role should be played by the UN, what authorities are needed, how to do it in a way that will make sure that the gains of the military action are harvested.”

The council members also wanted to make sure that UN involvement did not lighten the US-British responsibility for the welfare of the Iraqi people, particularly in southern Iraq where water and electricity were cut off due to thunderous ground and air assaults.

At the same time, the council agreed to hold an emergency meeting on the Iraqi crisis requested by the Arab League. But it is uncertain if anyone would push for a resolution demanding the withdrawal of US-British troops, which would probably fail for lack of votes.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who suspended the oil-for-food programme when the war began, proposed that the United Nations should take control of Iraqi contracts and adjust them to current needs whenever deliveries are made possible again.

Condoleezza Rice, the US national security adviser, conferred with Mr Annan on Tuesday about adjustments in the oil-for-food programme and other humanitarian concerns, a US official said.

Mr Annan said in a statement any role for the UN beyond relief assistance after the war would have to be decided by the SC.