Transfer of power 'in a week'

A United Nations resolution authorising the transfer of power in Iraq could be passed within a week, a senior British diplomat said today.

Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Tony Blair's former special envoy to Iraq, said the UN Security Council wanted more details on the deal struck between the Coalition forces and the interim Iraqi government. But he said: "I don't see this as being particularly difficult."

Agreeing the new resolution has been delayed after France, Russia and Germany demanded that Iraq should be handed more sovereignty.

Britain's hand was strengthened today when the Iraqi foreign minister endorsed the draft text. In a speech to the Security Council Hoshyar Zebari said the transition process set out in the resolution was "reasonably legitimate and decent".