In three pages of proposed amendments to the US-British draft UN Security Council resolution on Iraq, China said that the multinational force's mandate should expire in January 2005, in keeping with the timetable of the Iraqi political process.

Any extension should have the consent of the new Iraqi government and be decided by the UN Security Council.

The paper, submitted Wednesday during a closed-door session of the 15-nation council, also calls for establishing a mechanism that would require the force--mainly comprising American troops--to consult with the interim Iraqi government before taking any military actions except in self-defense.

Russia, France and Germany reportedly support China's proposal in large part.

The US and Britain introduced the draft on Iraq on Monday, seeking the Security Council's endorsement for the Iraqi power transfer and its authorization for the multinational force to remain in Iraq after June 30.

But the text does not give a timetable for the withdrawal of the force. It only stipulates that the force's mandate would be reviewed one year later or at the request of Iraqis.

Likewise, the draft does not mention whether the new Iraqi government would have full control of its army, and have a say on the multinational force's actions.

Besides security, China's paper also covers Iraq's political process, justice and humanitarian law, economic reconstruction, and the role of the United Nations.

It says that the Iraqi interim government shall exercise full sovereignty, in the political, economic, security, judicial and diplomatic areas, including the power to control and dispose all the natural and economic resources, sign economic cooperation agreements and contracts, and enjoy judicial independence and the power to administer prisons in Iraq.

The US-British draft does not specify whether the Iraqi government has the right to sign economic contracts with foreign countries, nor does it say Iraq's prisons, notorious for abuses by US troops, would be turned over to Iraqis.

Under China's proposals, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan would consider arranging investigations on the reported violations of international humanitarian laws in Iraq.

After the council consultations, French Ambassador to the UN Jean-Marc de La Sabliere told reporters that China's proposals were supported by many council members, including France.

Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya said the co-sponsors of the Iraqi resolution have agreed to consider China's proposals.

The council is going to meet at the experts' level on the US-British draft on Thursday, whose adoption needs nine "yes" votes, without veto by the five permanent council members -- China, Russia, France, the United States and Britain.

(China.org.cn, Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2004)