The top US diplomat told The Los Angeles Times that while the United States and its coalition partners would reserve for themselves "a leading role" in post-war Iraq, the United Nations has "a vital role" to play in bringing stability and prosperity to the war ravaged country.

"We need an endorsement of the authority, an endorsement of what we're doing in order to begin selling oil in due course, and in order to make sure that the humanitarian supplies continue to flow in the oil-for-food program," said Powell, adding that Washington was likely to seek more than one UN resolution addressing these issues.

But he categorically rejected the notion the allies would turn over Iraq to the UN Security Council after the end of hostilities, saying such expectations were "incorrect."

The secretary of state also noted that international support for the US-led coalition that has toppled the government of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad was growing, and a number of countries had already offered to send peacekeeping troops and constabulary forces to Iraq.

However, he did not name these countries.

SPACE.WIRE