Dresden, Germany, Sept 04: The leaders of Germany and France met today amid growing indications that Washington is prepared to concede the United Nations a bigger role in postwar reconstruction of Iraq, a key demand of the two anti-war governments. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac were expected to focus on Iraq at their informal meeting, but it appeared unlikely they would give full endorsement to the United States' draft UN resolution seeking troops and money from all nations.
Washington would not give up political or military control of Iraq under the draft resolution, offered yesterday, a concession sought by both anti-war nations. France holds veto power in the UN Security Council. The two leaders made no comment to reporters as they arrived for a tour of the Old Masters Gallery at Dresden's 18th-century Zwinger Palace reopened after being partly swamped in flooding last year before holding talks.
Chirac has urged the United States to move ``without delay'' to transfer political power to the Iraqi people under the mandate of the United Nations. Schroeder this week stressed ``the necessity of giving the united nations a significantly greater role in the political process in Iraq.'' Bureau Report