New York, Oct 06: Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the United States to quickly restore sovereignty to Iraqis and secure a new United Nations resolution that would clearly define how long the international forces would remain there. Unless that is done, the us could face the possibility of a prolonged violent and ultimately futile war like the one that mired the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, Putin told an American newspaper in an interview.

Iraq, he said, could "become a new centre, a new magnet for all destructive elements." Without naming them, he said "a great number of members of terrorist organizations" have been drawn into the country since the fall of Saddam Hussein. To respond to this emerging threat, he said, the Bush administration must move quickly to restore sovereignty to Iraqis and to secure a new united nations resolution.

Putin told the 'New York Times' that for the first time that Russia was prepared to offer partial relief on the 8 billion dollars it is owed by Iraq, but only in coordination with other major creditor nations in the Paris club.

On Iran, Putin said Russia had sought to address US' concerns about its aid in construction of a civilian nuclear reactor by insisting that Tehran return any spent nuclear fuel - a demand not yet ironed out in talks with Iran. Bureau Report