The US has called for a vote this week on a new resolution that would set a Dec. 15 deadline for Iraq's Governing Council to submit a timetable for drafting a constitution and holding elections, while in Baghdad yesterday, a car bomb exploded near the Turkish Embassy.
The revised US draft doesn't meet the key demand of France, Germany, Russia and Secretary-General Kofi Annan for a quick handover of power to an Iraqi provisional government within months.
US President George W. Bush's main aim in seeking a new resolution is to get more countries to contribute troops and money to stabilize and rebuild Iraq. The resolution would authorize a multinational force -- sought by some potential troop contributing nations -- led by the US.
Even if there are no further changes, the resolution is likely to get the minimum nine "yes" votes needed for adoption. France has ruled out using its veto -- but some council members are concerned at the mixed message the council would send if the resolution was only approved by a slim margin.
The revised resolution would give the UN a larger role in Iraq's political transition to a democracy, but the world body would not be able to act independently of the US-led coalition now running the country as Annan has sought.
The Bush administration revised the draft for a third time in hopes of addressing the concerns of key council nations and sending a unanimous message to Iraqis and the international community on the Security Council's vision for postwar Iraq.
The initial reactions were mixed.
Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer called the draft "a step in the right direction," while France's Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said more analysis was needed of the changes, which essentially call for a timetable to come up with a timetable.
In Beijing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said yesterday that China was studying the contents of the US draft. The spokeswoman, Zhang Qiyue (章啟月), said, "China supports a new resolution to help Iraq realize security and stability immediately and return sovereignty to Iraq's people as quickly as possible. ... We hope the United Nations will have an increased role."
In Malaysia, foreign ministers at the world's biggest gathering of Islamic countries reacted coolly.
"If we look back at the Security Council debates, we must be pessimistic," Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said on the sidelines of the Organization of the Islamic Council summit.
"They have debated international law, the balance of power and everything else under the sun, except what Iraq needs. We hope these things will be reversed this time," he said.
Meanwhile, a car bomb exploded yesterday near the Turkish Embassy, killing the driver and injuring two staff members, the US military said.
It was the second fatal car bombing in the Iraqi capital in three days.
A concrete security barrier close to the embassy absorbed most of the blast and prevented further damage and injuries, US officials said.
A US military spokesman said an explosion occurred about 500m from the embassy.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old