A new draft UN resolution on Iraq presented by the United States and Britain needs further changes, French President Jacques Chirac has said.
Among other things, the new draft resolution sets out a rough timetable for the withdrawal of US-led troops from Iraq.
France holds the power of veto in the UN Security Council.
Earlier, the UN Security Council discussed the second draft resolution on the future of Iraq after objections were made to the original document put forward by the US and Britain.
The two countries have already made some changes to the first draft in an effort to have it passed as soon as possible.
Council members now want to hear the views of an Iraqi delegation that will arrive in New York later this week.
Five killed in car bomb in Baghdad
Meanwhile, a car bomb explosion in the Iraqi capital Baghdad is reported to have killed at least five people and injured more than 35 others.
The blast came as the UN envoy to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, said Iraq's new interim government faced a difficult task in preparing the country for full democracy.
Mr Brahimi has been mediating between the US-led coalition and the now disbanded Governing Council to choose the new administration.
The new administration is set to take power from the US-led occupation authority at the end of the month and will run the country until elections can be held early next year.
In his first comments since the cabinet was sworn in, Mr Brahimi defended the new government, which he said was as inclusive as possible and the best outcome on offer.
