"At this moment our main concern should be discussing how to ensure the stability of Iraq (once the conflict is over)," he said in an interview broadcast on private radio TSF.

"In the first place there is the need to guarantee a central role for the United Nations," he added.

"Secondly the relationship between the United Nations and a future Iraqi administration, which should really represent the people of Iraq and not be merely imposed from the outside, needs to be clarified," the sole Portuguese European Union Commissioner said.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday Washington would be sending a team to Baghdad this week to begin the process of setting up an interim authority that will run a post-Saddam Iraq.

SPACE.WIRE