Powell: UN will have a role in post-war Iraq

Speaking during a day of discussions with EU leaders and NATO foreign ministers, Mr Powell added that the exact nature of the UN's role remained to be seen.

Mr Powell said he had told his NATO and EU counterparts that 'the work of reconstruction and rebuilding will require the entire international community to join together'.

After meeting NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Mr Powell said that members of NATO were willing to consider a role in post-war Iraq if the need arose. 'I'm pleased there is at least a receptive attitude here today that NATO is willing to consider that (a role),' he told reporters.

Mr Powell also said the United States and Britain had to play a leading role in the future of Iraq.

The EU argues that the United Nations should play a central role.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has said Iraq's oil and natural resources must remain under the control of the Iraqi people. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw insisted yesterday that Iraqis would run their own country.

But the United States is making its own plans for post-war government.

The US said earlier it would welcome financial contributions from the UN to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people and rebuild the country.

At a joint news conference with NATO Secretary General George Robertson this afternoon, the Greek Foreign Minister, whose country holds the current EU Presidency, said a consensus was emerging between the United States and the European Union on how to administer a post-war Iraq.

George Papandreou also said that a United Nations resolution would be a pre-requisite for full EU involvement in post conflict reconstruction of Iraq.