Tashkent, Sept 06: Russia joined old anti-war allies France and Germany on Friday in rejecting a US draft resolution seeking broader international help in post-war Iraq, saying it needed ''further, very serious work''.
But Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov said the draft did go some way to meeting concerns that the United Nations would play a central role in solving Iraq's problems. "The US draft resolution shows some movement towards these principles," he said at a regional cooperation meeting in Uzbekistan in Central Asia.

''But, naturally, for them to be reflected fully, this document still needs further, very serious work.''

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He urged the United States to address itself to the fact the situation in Iraq was deeply troubled.

''In this respect, one cannot but express surprise at statements made by some Washington officials that life in Iraq is returning to normal and becoming better virtually day by day,'' he said.

''One should not be misled — the situation in Iraq is becoming not better, but worse day by day.''

The US, facing mounting losses among its forces, began pressing this week for the adoption of a new resolution encouraging other countries to contribute troops and money to postwar reconstruction efforts.

But French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder rejected the proposal on Thursday, saying it did not hand enough responsibility to Iraqis or the United Nations. Chirac said they were ''very, very far removed'' from an acceptable draft.

Both leaders, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, denounced the drive to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, launched without backing from the UN Security Council. Bureau Report