Athens, Apr 17: French President Jacques Chirac said today the United Nations must decide exactly how sanctions on Iraq should be lifted, after the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime. Speaking after US President George W Bush called for an end to the UN-administered "oil-for-food" program, Chirac reiterated that the UN must play a central role in post-war Iraq. "The lifting of sanctions is an aim which we have supported for a long time. Now it is naturally for the UN to define the modalities for lifting the sanctions," he said. "France wants the UN to play a central role, both in the next steps over Iraq and in the context of stability which must be re-established in the region," he added. Bush called yesterday for the UN to lift sanctions on Iraq now that Saddam Hussein regime has "passed into history".

He said Washington would "in the near future" offer a UN resolution ending the UN-administered "oil-for-food" program to enable Iraq to sell oil freely on world markets.

The French leader was speaking after talks in Athens with chief Kofi Annan, who was invited to an EU summit designed to sign an historic accession treaty but clouded by Iraq.

Chirac, who was fiercely opposed to the war in Iraq, also reiterated his desire to proceed "pragmatically" now the war is all but over.

"Faithful to its principles, France will naturally broach these questions in a pragmatic manner, case by case," he said, adding that he had discussed the issues with Annan.

"I indicated that France would support his action in every possible way," he added.

Bureau Report