UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Britain and the United States opened debate in the U.N. Security Council Thursday on a possible new mandate for Iraq recovery, security topping the list.
First they reported on events of recent months and then admitted shortcomings in security that culminated in Tuesday's bombing of U.N. headquarters in Baghdad.
U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said the best way to honor the victims was by approving a new stronger commitment to building a better Iraq with more nations contributing troops.
British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry solicited suggestions.
France's deputy representative, Minister Michel Duclos, responded with a litany of demands for more say in what goes on in Iraq.
He sought transparency, particularly regarding Iraq's finances and oil wealth; how information would be shared, a security alert system, how humanitarian and other civilian workers would be protected without confusing them with the military and perhaps the toughest, a timetable for the political and economic reconstruction of Iraq.
Duclos also sought the return of weapons inspectors to certify there were no more weapons of mass destruction, Washington's stated reason for the coalition's invasion.
