Right Voices

French troops could protect UN personnel in Iraq

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Friday that French troops could be used to provide security for United Nations officials who are likely to oversee the electoral process in war-torn Iraq.

?I?m not expecting any French troops, but there might be other things that France would be able to do,? Powell said in an interview with the Times newspaper in London.

?We will have a need for the protection of UN personnel in the country, in order to have that vital presence that we?ve all talked about and everybody has encouraged,? he said.

?We will need security for the UN electoral officials who will be going through the country to register people and get ready for the elections at the beginning of next year,? he said.

The comments were seen by the Times as an attempt to patch up the rift between Washington and Paris, which has consistently opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq.

The United States is hoping that France will not block an imminent UN Security Council resolution to lend legitimacy to its transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi people on June 30.

However, French President Jacques Chirac said on Thursday he was doubtful the body would agree on a resolution.

To have French troops protect the United Nations officials – - that just makes so much sense to me I think they should do it – - It seems so appropriate.