The United States on Wednesday submitted to the UN Security Council a new draft resolution on Iraq, which gives the world body a more specific role in the war-battered nation and calls for a "progressive" restoration of the Iraqi sovereignty.

The revised draft, a copy of which was obtained by Xinhua, was circulated Wednesday afternoon by US Ambassador to the United Nations John Negroponte at a closed-door meeting with other Security Council permanent members -- Britain, China, France and Russia.

Like the original version, the new draft "invites" the Iraqi Governing Council to come up with a timetable and a program for drafting a new constitution and holding elections.

The measure states clearly the "temporary" nature of the occupation of Iraq and advocates that Iraqis "progressively" undertake the administration of their country.

The draft spells out the UN role more clearly than the original version, but does not give the world body a dominant role in Iraq's reconstruction or political process.

It "requests the (occupying) authority, in cooperation with the special representative of the secretary-general, to assist the (Iraqi) Governing Council in the implementation of the above timetable and program."

In the meantime, the UN secretary-general is requested to report to the Security Council on the work of his special representative.

The draft resolution also calls on the United Nations to authorize a US-led multinational force to contribute to "the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq." The United States, as leader of the force, would report to the Security Council as least every six months.

After reading the text, a diplomat, who declined to give his name, said there are some "positive signs" in the amendment, including an enhanced UN role and a proposed review on the mission of the multinational force.

In recent weeks, the United States has been pushing for the passage of a new resolution on Iraq calling for other countries to contribute troops and money for the rebuilding of the war-torn nation.

In early September, it put forward a so-called working draft resolution on Iraq to test the reaction of other members of the Security Council. France and Germany, which demand a bigger UN role and a quick and specific timetable for the end of the occupation, have voiced their strong opposition.

US officials said earlier that they hoped the Security Council would adopt a new resolution on Iraq in time for the Madrid donors conference, which is due to open on Oct. 24, to raise funds for Iraq's reconstruction.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the 15 council members are expected to discuss the new US draft resolution during their monthly luncheon on Thursday. The United States holds the rotating council presidency for October.

(Xinhua News Agency October 2, 2003)