British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Thursday that it is necessary to adopt a new United Nations resolution to guide Iraq's political transition andgive the world body a key role in the process.

Blair spoke to reporters with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the residence of British UN Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry. Prior to the press encounter, Blair and Annan had a working dinner.

"The circumstances will require us at some point in the near future to have a new United Nations Security Council resolution that will allow us to point way toward political transition in Iraq," said Blair.

Diplomats said earlier that the resolution would be passed before June 30 when the US-led coalition is due to transfer power to a caretaker Iraqi government. It would cover Iraq's transition from June 30 to general elections, which could take place as earlyas next January.

Blair said he discussed with Annan the current violent situation in Iraq and the just-concluded mission of Annan's special adviser Lakhdar Brahimi to help Iraqis reach consensus on how to form the caretaker government.

Blair said the violence has added to the difficulties in reaching the goal of establishing a "stable and prosperous and democratic Iraq governed by the Iraqi people."

"Our determination to get there remains undimmed. We have to stand firm," he stressed.

Annan reiterated that the international community must unite instabilizing Iraq. "We cannot afford to fail in Iraq," he said.

Blair will head to Washington to meet US President George W. Bush on Friday.

Source: Xinhua