The UN Security Council's five permanent members reached consensus Wednesday on a US-drafted resolution to welcome the establishment of the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, informed diplomatic sources here said.

The agreement was reached after the United States agree to replace the word "endorse" with "welcome" to describe the council's support for the Iraqi body, the sources disclosed.

The final draft "welcomes" the establishment of the Iraqi Governing Council as an "important" step toward the formation of an internationally recognized Iraqi government, they said.

The agreement was reached at a closed-door meeting of experts from China, Russia, Britain, France and the United States.

The sources also revealed that the final text would be soon circulated to the 10 elected members of the council and the US mission wanted a vote on it as early as Thursday.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2003)