WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The United States is expected to allow its troops in Iraq to come under international control, the London Independent reported Monday.
The statement was made by Javier Solana, the European Union foreign policy chief, and signals a major policy shift by the United States, the newspaper said.
Solana underlined the change of mood in Washington, saying: "Everybody has moved, including the United States, because the United States has a real problem and when you have a real problem you need help."
During the weekend, the Bush administration spelled out its new plans for the faster transfer of power from Americans to the Iraqis, with a transitional government now scheduled to take over at the end of June. Earlier, U.S. officials had said Iraqi leaders should write a constitution first, then hold elections.
Until now, the United States resisted putting the allied forces under international auspices, although there is growing support in Washington for a NATO role, Solana said.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell arrives in Brussels Monday night for talks with EU ministers.
