U.S. and Britain propose U.N. role in Iraq

By Patrick Worsnip

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States and Britain proposed on Wednesday a greatly expanded political role for the United Nations in Iraq to try to heal the sectarian divide that has riven the country since the U.S.-led invasion.

A draft resolution circulated to the U.N. Security Council called for a major boost to the scope of the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq, or UNAMI, to accompany the extension of its mandate for a further year.

It was distributed as fresh turmoil struck the government in Baghdad. The main Sunni Arab political bloc quit the Shi'ite-led Cabinet on Wednesday in a dispute over security, and suicide bombers killed more than 70 people in the capital.

Since it was set up four years ago, UNAMI has focused mainly on helping with elections and monitoring human rights. The United Nations has operated cautiously in Iraq since its Baghdad office was blown up in 2003, killing 22 staff and visitors.

But U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad, formerly envoy to Iraq, has said he wants the world body more involved in internal reconciliation there. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also favours a bigger U.N. role.

The U.S.-British draft said UNAMI should from now on "advise, support and assist" Iraqis on "advancing an inclusive, national dialogue and political reconciliation" and reviewing and implementing the constitution.

The draft, which came as Washington and London are urging Iraq to take more responsibility to allow U.S. and British troops eventually to leave, said UNAMI should also promote dialogue between Iraq and its neighbours on border security, energy and refugees.

The March 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein ended the domination of Iraq by its Sunni minority, propelling the long downtrodden Shi'ite majority into the political driving seat and also empowering the Kurds.