Putin wants U.N. to take lead in Iraq

[ECH1969]

GLENEAGLES, Scotland - British Prime Minister Tony Blair may want to change the subject from the divisive issue of Iraq, but U.S. President George W. Bush and other G-8 leaders can't seem to get enough.

A Kremlin official said Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would push the Group of Eight to work toward giving the United Nations a leading role in Iraq, as well as setting a possible timeframe for U.S.-led forces to leave Iraq.

The Kremlin official, who declined to be identified in accordance with Kremlin press rules, also said the G-8 should work to make the political process in Iraq more inclusive, in line with the recommendations of last month's Brussels meeting on Iraq hosted by the European Union and the United States.

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