THE leading opponents of war in Iraq capitulated to raw American power yesterday as the United Nations Security Council voted overwhelmingly to give Britain and the US broad control of the country.

France, Germany and Russia, who tried unsuccessfully to thwart the US-led invasion, all grudgingly voted in favour of a resolution that lifted the 13-year-old trade embargo immediately without any certification from UN inspectors that Iraq is weapons-free.

The only council member not to back the resolution was Syria, the sole Arab state of the 15-nation panel. It was unable to decide its position and failed to vote.

Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Britain’s UN envoy, hoped that the 14-0 result would restore the unity of the Security Council.

Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, the French Ambassador, complained that the resolution was “not perfect”, but provided a “credible framework”, for the international community to help Iraq.

“The war that we did not want, and a majority of the council did not want, has taken place. We are now in a new situation. We cannot undo history,” Gunter Pleuger, the German Ambassador, said. “We have to take actions and take decisions for the sake of the Iraqi people.”

Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s UN Ambassador, told the council, “Definitely, it was a compromise. The significance is primarily that it creates an international legal basis for joint efforts to be made by the entire international community to deal with the crisis,” he said.

Washington won adoption of its proposal for Iraq’s future with only cosmetic changes aimed at guaranteeing a UN special representative an “independent” role. Diplomats said that none of the anti-war powers had any stomach for a new fight with the United States, particularly after swing voters such as Chile and Angola endorsed the US approach.

The resolution assigns the dominant role to an authority composed of the occupying powers which will control oil revenues and play a decisive part in the creation of a new Iraqi government. The text opens the way for other nations to contribute peacekeepers without being stigmatised as “occupying powers” — a provision sought by the Netherlands and promoted on the Security Council by Pakistan.

The UN will act through a newly appointed special representative. In a further demonstration of American power Kofi Annan, the UN SecretaryGeneral, is expected to appoint Sergio Vieira de Mello, a Brazilian who is America’s choice and now the UN human rights commissioner, to the post.

The UN’s “Oil-for-Food” scheme, which has provided a monthly food basket to 60 per cent of Iraq’s population, will be wound up over six months. Iraq’s oil money will be deposited in a development fund to be spent “at the direction” of the occupying powers for the benefit of the Iraqi people.

The use of the oil money will be overseen by an International Advisory and Monitoring Board, including representatives of the UN, World Bank, and Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development.

The resolution gave no role to the UN weapons inspectors, but promised to “revisit” their mandate. An arms embargo remains in place.

• Tony Blair yesterday denied claims that Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney-General, had told the Government that coalition forces were administering Iraq without lawful authority.

  Next steps on road to recovery

• Iraq can start selling oil immediately
• Oil revenue will be deposited in a development fund to be spent for the benefit of the Iraqi people
• The UN, World Bank, IMF and Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development must name representatives to a monitoring board to oversee Iraq’s oil sales
• The UN must transfer $1 billion in spare Oil-for-Food money immediately to the development fund
• The UN Secretary-General must name a UN special representative to Iraq to help to set up new government
• The occupying powers to hold a conference of Iraqi political figures in July to establish an interim authority

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