The United States on Tuesday refused to make substantive changes to its third draft resolution on Iraq as demanded by Russia, Germany and France.

The United States circulated a new version of the draft as the United Nations Security Council extended its closed-door consultations late into the night.

The new text absorbed some of Russian-German-French amendments, including when the occupying coalition should cease exercising Iraq's sovereignty.

The new version underscores that the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) will "cease" the exercise of authorities when an internationally recognized Iraqi government "is sworn in".

Another change is related to the mandate of the proposed US-led multinational force.

"In any case the mandate of the force shall expire, unless the new government of Iraq requests otherwise, when an internationally recognized, representative government of Iraq has been sworn in and assumed the responsibilities of the Authority (CPA)," the latest draft says.

But the latest version did not contain the three countries' proposal to request the US-led coalition to develop a specific schedule for the return of the Iraqi sovereignty.

A council diplomat, who was attending the closed-door meeting, told Xinhua that these minor changes failed to satisfy France, Russia and Germany, the three strong critics of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

US diplomats here indicated earlier that Washington would likely put the resolution, co-sponsored by Britain, Spain and Cameroon, to a vote any time from 3 pm (1900 GMT) on Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2003)