"The United Nations role is not what is in discussion right now," Condoleezza Rice, national security adviser to US President George W. Bush, told reporters.

"The coalition intends to have the leading role. Given what we have been going through, what we are going through, it is no surprise that the coalition should have the leading role," she said.

While the United Nations will play a role in rebuilding Iraq, "I would caution that Iraq is not East Timor, or Kosovo or Afghanistan. Iraq is unique," said Rice.

SPACE.WIRE