The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Tuesday for a US-British resolution that formally ends the occupation of Iraq on June 30 and authorises a US-led force to keep the peace.
"It means full sovereignty for Iraq. It means a new age in hopefully very pleasant Iraqi history," said Iraq's new interim president, Ghazi al-Yawar, who is visiting Washington.
The vote by the 15-nation council endorsed a "sovereign" interim Iraqi government and said the country's new leaders had the right to order the international troops to leave at any time. The resolution makes clear the mandate of the multinational force commanded by the Americans would expire, in any case, by the end of January 2006.
As part of the text, the United States pledged "partnership" and co-ordination with Iraq's leaders on military campaigns but stopped short of giving Baghdad a veto over major offensives as France, Germany, Algeria and other council members had wanted.
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