China makes Iraq proposal

China released a paper with proposed amendments to the US-British UN draft resolution on transfer of power in Iraq. In the paper, which was circulated among members of the UN Security Council, China proposed that a time limit be placed on the stay of the US-led multinational coalition and advocated that some control over international forces be given to Iraq when power is transferred to its new government on June 30. China also suggested establishing a mechanism for consultation between the primarily American coalition troops and Iraq's transitional government regarding military actions not including self-defense. Aside from military concerns, China's paper also addressed the issues related to Iraq's justice system, political processes, humanitarian law and economic reconstruction.