US seeks UN resolution on Iraq amid allies' concerns over prisoner abuse

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said that preliminary talks on a UN resolution on Iraq were progressing, but indicated that the Iraq prisoner abuse scandal was a source of serious concern for foreign nations who sought reassurances.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said talks since Friday between Secretary of State Colin Powell and his counterparts from Germany, Denmark, Poland, France and Britain had "proceeded well".

"What we are doing at this point is sort of gathering ideas about how it might proceed, what kind of elements belong in it, and how different questions might be handled," said Boucher.

"I'd say there's a fair amount of congruence on the major issues to be addressed.

"We think the discussions have proceeded well" while further discussions at UN level on phrasing such a resolution are still needed, he said.

"I think we all know we are looking for a resolution as soon as possible before the handover," Boucher added.

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