BRUSSELS, March 27: The European Union and the United States headed for another bruising feud over Iraq on Thursday as Washington appealed for EU help in reconstructing post-war Iraq but European governments demanded a central United Nations role in rebuilding the country.

“As the EU and the US build a transatlantic relationship, one area where we need to put our shoulder to the wheel is in helping the Iraqi people make up for 20 years of Saddam’s rule,” US Under Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Alan Larson told reporters after meetings with EU officials in Brussels.

Mr Larson denied suggestions that the US would keep out European firms from post-war reconstruction contracts in Iraq, saying Washington was seeking international “partners” for relief and recovery efforts in the country.

The success of joint European and American reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan could be repeated in post-war Iraq, Larson added.

But while the EU has earmarked 100 million euros in fast-track humanitarian aid for Iraq, many in Brussels and other EU capitals say they are not ready to start discussing Iraq’s reconstruction.

French President Jacques Chirac warned last week that talk of rebuilding Iraq was premature while the “destruction” of Iraq was taking place.

France would resist new UN resolutions that sought to legitimize a war that Paris has steadfastly opposed, Mr Chirac said.

EU leaders, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, are also insisting that the UN must have a central role in rebuilding and administering Iraq after the war.

The idea has been rejected by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.